Melbourne City 2-1 Newcastle Jets
Melbourne City had to come from behind to defeat the Newcastle Jets who were reduced to ten men midway through the first half.
Unlike the last time these two sides met it was the Jets who drew first blood.
Roy O’Donovan scored the easiest of goals after a rare mistake from City goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic just four minutes into the game.
Though this did not seem to faze the home side who very quickly got on the front foot through Riley McGree who caused many problems for his former side.
City found themselves level as they were awarded penalty after Newcastle’s Ronald Vargas handled the ball in the area.
The situation was exacerbated as Vargas was given his second yellow card, with the second one being for dissent and McGree converted the penalty equalising for City.
The home side took full advantage of having the extra man as Luke Brattan was teed up on the edge of the area to score his side’s second goal and give City the lead.
Newcastle came out a different side in the second half and while they were unable to find an equaliser head coach Ernie Merrick was full of praise after the game.
“It was a tremendous display from our players,” Merrick said.
“No points to show for it but the team spirit we showed was important,
“We turned it into a good game.”
A significant turn around for the Jets after Merrick had labelled their performance against City a month ago as “insipid.”
Daniel Georgevski had the best chance for the Jets, hitting the post minutes after he and Ritchie De Laet started a brief melee.
Newcastle travel to Melbourne again in their next match to face the Victory while City are at home to Brisbane on Friday night.
Brisbane Roar 2 – 4 Perth Glory
Like Melbourne City did in the match before, Perth Glory came from behind to defeat the Brisbane Roar in a six-goal affair at Suncorp Stadium.
Adam Taggart got the ball rolling for the Roar scoring a clever opening goal after the Glory had a chance to go one up themselves.
Taggart doing just enough to header the ball past an incoming Liam Reddy, allowing the former Glory striker to open the scoring against his former side.
Taggart was certainly in the mood for scoring as he put away his second just before the break to double Brisbane’s lead, putting the Glory under a lot of pressure heading into the second half.
Though despite holding a 2-0 lead at the break there was still a mountain to climb for the Roar, considering Perth’s second halves this season.
