FINALLY, the Newcastle Jets found some fight — on the field.
But in a cruel twist at the death for the home side, they conceded an own goal in the final 30 seconds to substitute Allan Welsh that handed Brisbane a 2-1 win.
The internal divisions that have left the Jets in turmoil over the past fortnight weren’t evident as the home side came from behind to level the match through rookie Radovan Pavicevic with 19 minutes left after Brisbane led 1-0 at half-time.
But Thomas Broich fired a late free kick across the goal mouth which Welsh, who has only come into the game seconds earlier, managed to push into his own goal.
Given the turmoil in the Jets camp, Brisbane was a clear favourite going in but it was the Jets who almost found the perfect start less than two minutes into the game with the crossbar denying the home side a surprise opening goal.
It came after Andrew Hoole and Zenon Caravella worked a short corner with Hoole’s cross finding striker Edson Montano in the box.
The Jets celebrate the equaliser that looked to have given them a deserved point. Source: Getty Images
But despairingly for the Jets, his header rebounded off the bar and was dealt with by the Roar defence with a great chance going begging.
Brisbane were content to play possession football for most of the opening stanza but struggled to make meaningful inroads against a committed Jets defence who got plenty of numbers behind the ball.
A Jets supporter shows his feelings about owner Nathan Tinkler. Source: Getty Images
Their only real chance of the half came 35 minutes in when they won a corner, with striker Jean Carlos Solorzano catching the Jets napping to find space in the box and slot home from close range for their 1-0 half-time advantage.
The Jets’ Mitch Cooper had two gilt-edged chances for the home side before he was replaced but was denied both times by Roar keeper Michael Theo while Ben Kennedy was also solid in goals for the Jets.
source: foxsports.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 