FanFootball - English Premier League, Champion's League, La Liga and general soccer news and results.

Australian football news Newcastle Jets - FanFootball

2008 A-League Champions: Newcastle Jets

February 25th 2008 04:45

The Newcastle Jets has won the 2008 A-League championship after a 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Jets took out the decider in front of a huge 36,354 crowd after Mark Bridge, capitalising on an uncharacteristic error from the experienced Vidmar, drilled home the only goal of the match in the 64th minute.

However, the game was marred by controversy after the Mariners had seemingly won a penalty to level the score-line in the dying minutes of the game. Referee Mark Shield waved away the strong penalty claim as James Holland appeared to flick the ball away with his elbow but it was Central Coast goalkeeper Danny Vukovic who ended up getting red-carded for berating the ref for the non-decision.

Retiring former Socceroos Tony Vidmar will have to live with his costly mistake after being dispossessed by Mark Bridge near the half-way line before going onto score the only goal of the game.

The veteran Central Coast defender said: "A mistake from myself has cost us the game and I'm going to have to live with that.

"I'll put my hand up.

"There weren't too many clear-cut chances (and it was) a defining moment in the game.

"I saw 'Bridgey' coming from the corner of my left eye and I thought he was going to come inside me so I've gone to leave it and it's got stuck between my feet."

Meanwhile, Joe Marston Medal winner Andrew Durante hailed winning the grand final to be the greatest moment of his injury-plagued career. Not only did he play a huge part in bringing the first ever national football title to Newcastle, he was also voted the best player on the day with a superb display.

"I knew that if we won it, it would be an unbelievable feeling. But this is bigger and better than anyone could have expected. And then to get the Joe Marston on top of that is just the greatest thing I could ever think of," he said.

[Video source: YouTube]

Vote

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: charles - Category: Australian football news, Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets

Email this Post to a Friend

Newcastle Jets through to the A-league Grand Final

February 18th 2008 05:00

The Newcastle Jets are through to the A-league grand final after beating Queensland Roar 3-2 in a hard fought preliminary final marred by controversy.

Matt Thompson opened the scoring for the Jets in the 40th minute and were just minutes away from a defiant 1-0 win until a dubious decision by referee turned the game on its head when he awarded Queensland a penalty in injury time for a foul on Simon Lynch.

Up stepped Roar’s Brazilian striker Reinaldo to score from the spot to send the match into extra-time.

Of the two sides, it was Newcastle who started extra time brightly despite the harsh decision that went against them moments earlier and in the 104th minute, they received a penalty of their own when Korean midfielder Song was fouled in the box and Joel Griffiths converting the spot-kick.

Buoyed by taking the lead once again, the Jets continued to press and were rewarded with a third goal in the 110th minute after penalty scorer Griffiths had setup Tarek Elrich to unleash an unstoppable shot from 12 yards out. However, there was still plenty of drama and goalmouth action left in the enthralling contest when Roar skipper Craig Moore received a red-card after a challenge on Mark Bridge.

Despite going a man down, Queensland were awarded a second penalty when Zullo was fouled by Elrich and Reinaldo added a second goal from the spot which ultimately proved not enough as the Jets held on for a deserving win and booked themselves a place in the grand final against Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium on February 24, 2008.

[Video Source: YouTube]

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: charles - Category: Australian football news, Newcastle Jets, Queensland Roar

Email this Post to a Friend

[ FanFootball Home ] [ Create A New Post ]