A second-half penalty converted by Adam Taggart was the difference as Brisbane Roar fell 1-0 to Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
A second-half penalty converted by Adam Taggart was the difference as Brisbane Roar fell 1-0 to Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
The Roar struggled to find their rhythm in the final third despite holding more than 70 per cent possession and having more shots on goal than their less-fancied opponents.
Newcastle fashioned the first chance of the afternoon inside two minutes as former England striker Emile Heskey skyrocketed a volley before Luke Brattan drove a free kick towards goal for Brisbane but couldn-t find the target.
Besart Berisha forced a diving save from Jets gloveman Mark Birighitti on the quarter hour mark as momentum swung between the two sides in the first half but neither side could break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
After the break, both teams were prepared to push forward but it was Newcastle that found the match-s first – and only – goal of the night as Roar defender Shane Stefanutto was adjudged to foul Queensland-born Jet Josh Brillante inside the penalty area.
Japanese referee Takuto Okabe, in Australia on an exchange program organised by Football Federation Australia, pointed to the spot and Taggart converted to score his ninth goal of the Hyundai A-League season.
Brisbane boss Mike Mulvey showed his intent as he brought on attacking pair Henrique and Jean Carlos Solorzano within minutes at the expense of midfield pair Steven Lustica and Diogo Ferreira.
It was the diminutive Brazilian that went closest to an equaliser for the home side late in the match, striking the ball against the upright after a deft touch forward from Brattan but the Jets held on for their third win over the Roar this season.
Brisbane Roar 0
Newcastle Jets 1 (Adam TAGGART 57(p)-)
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4pm local time
Referee: Takuto Okabe (Japan)
Crowd: 13,066
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEO (gk), 2. Matthew SMITH (c), 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 7. Besart BERISHA, 8. Steven LUSTICA (10. HENRIQUE 64-), 13. Jade NORTH, 14. Diogo FERREIRA (16. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO 64-), 18. Luke BRATTAN, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Dimitri PETRATOS (17. Matthew McKAY 76-)
Substitutes not used: 15. James DONACHIE, 20. Matthew ACTON
Yellow cards: Shane STEFANUTTO 58-
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 4. Kew JALIENS, 6. Zenon CARAVELLA, 8. Ruben ZADKOVICH (c), 9. Emile HESKEY (13. Joey GIBBS 77-), 11. Craig GOODWIN (16. Jacob PEPPER 72-), 12. Connor CHAPMAN, 15. Josh BRILLANTE, 17. James VIRGILI (24. Mitchell OXBORROW 86-), 21. Sam GALLAWAY, 22. Adam TAGGART
Substitutes not used: 19. Michael BRIDGES, 20. Ben KENNEDY (gk)
Yellow cards: Josh MITCHELL 22-, Kew JALIENS 52-
Red cards: Nil
