Nachwuchsfußball in Down Under: Australian IS verliert gegen Newcastle Jets

Vor dem 14. Spieltag der australischen National Youth League befanden sich auf der Habenseite des Teams vom Australian Institute of Sports – kurz AIS – magere vier Pünktchen. Ein Sieg und ein Remis, mehr wollte bzw. konnte in der bisherigen Saison nicht herausspringen. Gegen den Tabellendritten Newcastle United Jets, der mit Melbourne Heart, Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar und Perth Glory einen Vierkampf um Rang drei bestreitet, sollten keine weiteren Punkte hinzukommen. Mit 2:5 ging diese Partie verloren. 

Woran es liegt, versucht Glenn Dawson zu erläutern, der in Canberra vor Ort beim Match gegen die Newcastle United Jets war. In gewohnter Form ein ausführlicher Bericht – verfasst auf Englisch:

Looking for only their second win of the season, the AIS went into their round 14 clash against the Newcastle Jets full of hope after several encouraging results over the previous 3 rounds including an away win in Perth and close loses against Melbourne Heart and Central Coast Mariners. The script didn’t quite go to plan though, as within the first 20 seconds Kale Bradbury almost scored for Newcastle after a weak back pass from the kickoff wasn’t dealt with well by the keeper and kicked straight to Marko Jesic whose quick ball to Bradbury was struck well and would have found the back of the net except for a fine save from Lucas Spinella who redeemed himself for his poor clearance. 

Newcastle only had to wait another minute to open their account though after just 76 seconds on the clock when some quick passing caught the AIS defenders out and with the ball controlled at his feet, Jesic picked his spot and fired low underneath Spinella for a 1-0 lead. The lead should have been doubled after 5 minutes when Newcastle again found an easy path through the AIS defense with Bobby Russell the recipient, however his shot ricocheted off the upright and away. Newcastle were looking dangerous every time they had the ball and even when Mitch Cooper blasted high over the crossbar in the 14th minute from 10 meters out, it seemed not if Newcastle would win, but by how much. 

It took until the 19th minute for AIS to register their first shot of the game when Marc Marino fired from the edge of the box bringing out a good diving save from the Newcastle custodian, Brad McKenzie. The drinks break in the 23rd minute was a welcome relief for the AIS, who were lucky to be only down by one.  A fired up Tony Vidmar gave his young troops some important messages during the quick break to which the home team took heed. 

Five minutes after the break, Alexander Gersbach went on a run down the left hand side and fired from a wide angle just going past the far post.  AIS had a great chance to equalize after 35minutes from the head of the captain Joshua Barresi who rose to collect the perfectly waited pass from Marino, but put it into the side netting. It wasn’t long though till the AIS finally broke through, when Steve Kuzmanovski held off several defenders and squared the ball to a waiting Marino who finished well to even the scores at 1-1 after 36 minutes.

Newcastle had the chance to restore their lead immediately after another poor clearance from Spinella found the feet of Russell who had an open goal to aim at but luckily for Spinella, it again hit the upright and bounced straight back into his waiting arms.  Just before the break Jesic was unlucky not to score his second after his long shot dipped over the keepers head, hitting the crossbar.

An inspired substitute at the interval from the Newcastle coach, Clayton Zane saw Brandon Lundy introduced for Mitch Cooper and with his first touch put Newcastle back in front after only 24 seconds of play in the second half. Bobby Russell found an unmarked Lundy on the left edge of the box with a perfectly weighted though ball and with his first time shot, placed it past Spinella on the near post.

 With defense from both teams left at home, it was the AIS who had a chance to equalize when a well struck shot 25 meters out from Matthew Ntoumenopoulos had the Newcastle keeper beaten, however luck was not with him, as the shot hit the left upright and rebounded back into the field of play to the feet of Marino whose second effort was deflected wide by the retreating Newcastle defense.

From the resultant corner, Newcastle went immediately on the counter attack and found a flying Lundy who beat his marker and curled a beautiful shot from 20 meters out past the outstretched hands of Spinella into the top left corner for his second goal after only 12 minutes on the pitch.

Not finished for the day, Jesic added his second goal to extend the margin to 4-1 with arguably the best goal of the day.  A quickly taken goal kick was moved up field and after only two kicks, Jesic audaciously chipped the substitute keeper, Andre Jannese from 30 meters out. With five minutes remaining, Newcastle added a fifth goal, with Lundy completing his second half hat trick with a calmly placed shot after another AIS turnover midfield. 

A beautifully taken free kick from Jordan Pudler 25 meters out almost gave AIS a second goal in the 89th minute, however it hit the crossbar again, and rebounded away.  The AIS though were to get a consolation goal in stoppage time with Josh Barressi making an easy chance difficult after being left one on one with the Newcastle keeper.  McKenzie managed to parry away the first attempt, then Pudler’s second attempt into an open net hit the near post and rebounded back into his knee and then into the back of the net to make the final score 2-5.

The small crowds of 93 people were treated to an exciting brand of football on Australia Day by both teams. While both teams showed plenty of defensive frailties, both attacking outfits showed plenty of promise, especially Newcastle, who should have put a few more goals on the board. The win moves Newcastle from 7th position on the table to 3rd, still four games behind the leaders Central Coast, while the AIS continue to languish at the bottom of the table with only a solitary win after 13 matches, with a game against the Western Sydney Wanderers, who sit one place above, on Saturday at the same venue. 

Fotos: Glenn Dawson (Canberra)

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