Sydney dominated the visitors in the first half, running to a 2-0 lead but surrendered possession in the 2nd half letting Newcastle snatch a valuable away goal.
Newcastle came into the away final off a humiliation of Melbourne Victory and with a settled side, and for once with a good travelling support. Sydney stinging from missing the 2nd spot through both the off field points loss and their own patchy form, but with more first choice players on call.
Sydney playing on a sandy relaid home pitch dominated possession from the kick off, with Mark Milligan's 5th minute cross to Alex Brosque lurking forward an indication of that freedom. Brosque alas could not beat Ante Covic in the Jets goal.
Steve Corica made a diagonal run in from the right unchallenged in the 14th minute and lifted the ball to Nikolai Topor-Stanley on the right. The Defender rose and headed into the area where Alex Brosque who beat two defenders to the ball and headed over an advancing Covic. 1-0
Sydney was pressuring Newcastle, flooding the midfield and breaking up any nascent moves.
Alex Brosque in the 22nd minute received the ball surrounded by four defenders just outside the area, turned North but shot just wide on the left.
Steve Corica was directing traffic and in the 30th minute he sent an early cross into the area, finding Mark Milligan who had got forward. Milligan rose to head strongly past Ante Covic. 2-0
After the the break, with Terry McFlynn out injured Sydney had to rearrange their formation, and Newcastle took full advantage, coming out firing.
In the 54th minute Matt Thompson cleared a dangerous ball but substitute Saso Petrovski latched onto a loose ball and blasted well over.
Steve Eagleton made a surging run for the Jets, but his shot from 25m was just wide on the right.
Four minutes later Rodriguez was free in the area but screwed his hurried shot across goal.
Newcastle got their reward in the 71st minute when Rodriguez turned Iain Fyfe in the area and slotted the ball past Clint Bolton in the Sydney goal.
Five minutes later Steve Eagleton got foward again but shot wide.
Mark Bridge was in the box in the 82nd minute closing down onto Bolton but the keeper was able to clear.
Sydney held out and now go north up the F3 to face the Jets at Energy Australia Stadium on Friday with a slight advantage. The Jets will be hoping they do not repeat their first half performance and can build on their away goal.