Newcastle has ended defending champions Sydney FC season and are backing themselves to become the new champions after a tense, incident-packed minor semi final that saw 6 yellow cards and one red card. The FFA will review anything not picked up by the referee during the game on Monday and some Jets players will have a nervous wait. Previous reviews have had the FFA handed out suspensions to Reddy, Fred & Qu this season.
In a game which had virtually everything, second half goals from Griffiths and Coveny sealed the Jets a dramatic 2-0 win against 10-man Sydney, in front of a record 24,338-crowd which included NSW Premier Morris Iemma and former Liverpool star Craig Johnston.
Sydney commenced with their pressing game which in the first half of last weeks game had the Jets struggling, but this week the Jets were up to it and they cut the supply to Corica to slowly gain the upper hand in the midfield.
The first chance of the game fell to Rodriguez whose left footed free kick went over the cross bar from 20 meters. Sydney responded with a Corica free kick who found Milligan whose header was wide, amazingly this was to be the best chance Sydney was to create for the entire game!
Brosque picked up a yellow card in the 12th minute for kicking North after losing possession, a minute later Bridge heads on to Rodriguez who has only Bolton to beat but from just 10 meters out he beats Bolton but amazingly misses the target with his low shot.
From the 25th minute the Jets take control as they create a series of chances, Bridge chips Bolton the ball is goal bound as Griffiths stretchs to tap the ball in but Talay is racing back and appears to use a hand in blocking the shot as the ball deflects for a corner, Referee Breeze waves play on as he denies a penalty. Then a sweet Jets passing move ends with a Griffiths shot past Bolton and past the upright. Then Zadkovich heads out a cross straight to Carle whose first time shot is wide of the near upright.
Sydney fight back in the 32nd minute the busy Middleby wins a corner, Talay in swinging corner is well held by Covic. Six minutes later Thompson is disposed at the edge of the Sydney penalty area Brosque long pass has Middleby through on goal but the last defender North fouls him. From the free kick Topor-Stanley wins the header but Covic is there.
The 42nd minute has Griffiths sprinting clear of Rudan & Talay from his own penalty area into the Sydney penalty area where he falls and his appeals for a penalty are waved away much to the disgust of the home fans.
The first half ends with Brosque elbowing Okon as they contest a high ball, Okon reacts angrily, then a wild melee follows with up to 20 players involved, Brosque recieves his second yellow which means red and he is off. North appears to headbutt Fyfe and Durrante appears to kick him while he is on the ground. As half time sounds another melee erupts, it includes Petrovski who storms off the bench and recieves a yellow card.
The second half starts with Sydney down to ten men, it's the Jets who have all the possession but can they break through for a goal, Bridge starts the half with a low shot past Bolton and past the far upright. Rodriguez is fouled at the edge of the penalty area his thunderbolt free kick has Bolton making a fine diving save.
Durrante tries a audious long range chip but is wide and then the busy Musialik finds Griffiths his cross is well covered by Bolton. Rodriguez then robs Zadkovich he finds Bridge but his long range effort is wide.
The Jets finally take a deserved lead in the 58th minute Zadkovich misjudges the bounce of the ball, it falls to Bridge who ties up Griffiths to hit a shot high into the goal. 1-0 Jets, the home crowd are sent into raptures.
Butcher immediately replaces the ineffective Carney with Petrovski. But it's the Jets who almost go further in front, a Thompson corner finds Rodriguez his point blank header is saved by Bolton the ball bounces to Carle who races for goal, he appears to be brought down but again for the third time in the game no penalty is awarded.
Talays free kick in the 69th minute is punched clear by Covic, from the corner a Rudan header is wide.
Thompson beat Zadkovich on the left in the 71st minute and his low cross from the by line found Coveny who tapped in the ball, it is 2-0 Jets.
Butcher immediately makes changes. Zdrillic and Salley are on. Off come Rudan & Talay, Rudan is unhappy and heads straight for the dressing room, Butcher orders him to sit on the bench.
Sydney still can't create a opening and it's the Jets who look more like scoring, Bridge tries a long range shot, a clever back heel by Carle has Bridge in space down the right but his cross is saved by Bolton, a Carle cross finds Griffiths his shot is fumbled by Bolton but regathered before Coveny can strike.
The final minutes has Bridge on the break he squares the ball for Carle who takes the ball into the penalty area but with just Bolton to beat his shot is softly struck and Bolton saves.
The 91st minute has Sydney's last chance of the game (and season) Zdrillic tries his luck from 25 meters but is well wide.
The final whistle sees emotional scenes amongst the players and fans as wild celebrations commence. The Jets now play Adelaide or Melbourne and are one game away from the Grand Final. Sydney's have the ACL to look forward to from March to May.
Gary Van Egmond commented We showed a lot of emotion, responsibilty we really stood up.
Terry Butcher stated Newcastle deserved to win, they are an excellent football team. We lost the tie after the first half last week. We lost 3 of the 4 halfs of the tie. We have had our problems this season a lot self inflected. Alex (Brosque) was distraught at half time.
Steve Corcia stated We were the Champions we have to regroup and concentrate on the Asian Champions League.
Paul Okon stated Two teams with a lot of desire to win. The crowd was a massive factor.