Pre Season Challenge: Perth Glory v Newcastle United Jets Match Thread

[Ray Nolan]

All discussion for the Group A Pre Season Challenge match between Perth Glory & Newcastle United Jets may be posted on this thread. It will be stickied until next Tuesday.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Despotovski double seals Sydney semi

Saturday, 6 August, 2005 - 9:00PM

A goal in each half from super striker Bobby Despotovski sealed a 2-1 win for Perth Glory against Newcastle United Jets and a semi-final fixture in the Pre-Season Cup at Sydney.

Despotovski put the Glory in front on 11 minutes, converting a penalty after Billy Celeski was brought down in the Newcastle box.

The Jets were back level on the half-hour mark though when Matthew Thompson slotted past Jason Petkovic following Jamie Coyne’s failed clearance.

The telling blow came with a stunning 20-yard curling free-kick from Despotovski, which sealed a 2-1 win and a trip to Sydney next Saturday for the semi final.

It was the Glory’s first win in the dress rehearsal competition for the eagerly-anticipated Hyundai A-League but they had to labour for it after putting up with some stern resistance from the tall Newcastle back line for the bulk of the match.

Newcastle even had a couple of promising chances to get a result after a late effort by substitute Franco Parisi went wide and a scrambling attempt to poke the ball home was desperately cleared by Glory off the goal line within five minutes of full time.

Veteran striker Bobby Despotovski got the relatively small crowd on their feet in the 11th minute after he expertly struck his penalty past Jets’ goalkeeper Liam Reddy – who fumbled attempted catches throughout the match - for his first of the night.

Young Socceroo Billy Celeski underlined his class when the youngster weaved his way into the box before being judged by referee Angelo Nardi to have been fouled by defender Allan Picken.

Newcastle needed an equaliser to keep their hopes of progressing to the next phase alive and striker Guy Bates almost came close but his left foot shot was deflected out for a corner. Ned Zelic’s ensuing downward header was no trouble for Petkovic.

Two minutes later though, the steel city club was on level terms. Hard working midfielder Matthew Thompson picked up the crumbs from a failed clearance by makeshift central defender, Jamie Coyne, before coolly sliding the ball past the advancing Petkovic.

After the interval, the game took on a more entertaining front for the crowd of 7,089 as both sides managed to find more space in their forward halves when mounting an attack. After all, a chance for progression was up for grabs for both sides.

Glory winger Naum Sekulovski almost put Glory ahead but his dipping left foot free kick was tipped over by Reddy two minutes after the restart.

But it was Glory hero Despotovski who deserved the spoils when he scored from a brilliantly taken free kick from just outside the penalty box on 62 minutes.

Japanese import Hiroyuki Ishida was fouled in a promising area for the Glory and caused Jets’ coach Richard Money to throw his water bottle in disgust on the sideline.

Despotovski stood up to take it and he bent his low kick around the wall, just inside the right-hand post, leaving the hapless Reddy with no chance.

Perth Glory: Petkovic, Horsley, Kovacevic, Coyne, Miller, Ishida (Caceres), McMahon Jnr (Ward), Colosimo, Sekulovski (Fa'arodo), Celeski, Despotovski.

Newcastle Jets: Reddy, Eagleton (Kohler), North, Deans, Zelic, Johnson, Thompson, Carle, Bates, Haliti, Picken (Parisi).

Yellow Cards:
Glory: Steve McMahon Jnr
Newcastle: Richard Johnson, Guy Bates.

Attendance: 7,098

 

[Ray Nolan]

Macca delighted with 'nervous' win

Sunday, 7 August, 2005 - 9:00AM
Glory coach Steve McMahon was delighted to secure a place in the semi-final of the Pre-Season Cup at Sydney on Sunday evening.

Going into the game Glory were bottom of the group table but knew a win was likely to secure a trip to the Harbour City and came good thanks to a brace from Bobby Despotovski.

Despite taking the lead with a penalty early on, McMahon’s side had to graft for the result. While Newcastle enjoyed good possession in the first half, neither goalkeeper was kept too busy before the break.

"We had to work hard, especially in the second half, we looked vulnerable in the first half,” the Glory coach admitted.

"We are learning from each game, we're getting fitter plus it was a good game in many respects.

"We performed really well as a team tonight, we were nervous in the first half but we worked ourselves through it. When you're nervous you always try to do well but you make mistakes," he explained.

McMahon didn't think his side deserved to go in front. "They were the better team in the first half but we threw our inhibitions out in the second half and we pressed hard," he emphasised.

Ultimately though, McMahon was delighted to secure another pre-season game ahead of the A-League kick-off as it gives his players another competitive match in preparation for the new national league.

Sydney will have a weakened side with strikers Dwight Yorke and David Zdrilic unavailable so the Glory should have good chance to reach the final the following weekend. The game will kick-off at 5pm on Sunday, August 14, at Aussie Stadium.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Jets Manager Happy with Team's Build-Up

Monday, 8 August, 2005 - 11:53AM

After going down to the Glory 2-1 in Perth on Saturday night Newcastle United Jets manager Richard Money says he’s happy with the team preparations.

“I want to make sure everyone understands that although we haven’t won through to the semi-finals of the pre-season cup, we are generally pretty happy with our preparation so far.” Jets manager Richard Money said.

“There were a lot of positives coming out of the game and I know we will see another group of players in terms of performance once the season kicks off” Money said.

“The good news is that we have a reasonable chance of starting the Hyundai A-League season with a fully fit team” Money said.

The Jets have missed the firepower up front with the absence of striker Ante Milicic sidelined through injury and the exciting Mark Bridge who did not travel to Perth with the squad.

Milicic has commenced training but Bridge is ready to resume and will take part in a NBN State League trial against Lake Macquarie on Tuesday night.

“The boys up front have given there all but the return of Ante Milicic and Mark Bridge will give us a huge lift in our start up game.” Money said.

“Also, Mateo Corbo is close to starting and Ned Zelic is slowly approaching full fitness, both are quality players and both will add balance to the starting eleven” Money said.

Newcastle is looking at some options to ensure that the players are match hardened for the Jets’ first game against Adelaide United who also were eliminated from the cup.

The Jets face Adelaide United in the season opener that marks the start of the Hyundai A-League. Match kicks off at 8.00pm @ Energy Australia Stadium Friday 26th August.

“Whatever happens we will do everything that needs to be done to make sure we are ready.” Money said.