Melbourne City did everything but score on Wednesday night, ultimately falling 1-0 after a second half Newcastle counterattack.
A lightning delay at AAMI Park saw the match paused after just 13 minutes, with play resuming a little over an hour later.
Despite City’s dominance and a relentless attacking display, a clinical Jets break proved to be the difference on the night.
Team News
Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar made just one forced change to his starting XI from the weekend’s win over Macarthur.
With Germán Ferreyra sidelined due to concussion, Kai Trewin shifted back into central defence, while Steven Ugarkovic came into the midfield.
Yonatan Cohen was also absent from the matchday squad due to a minor calf injury, while Young Socceroo Medin Memeti was named on the bench for the first time since the Young Socceroos’ AFC U20 Asian Cup triumph.
Starting XI: 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 27. Kai TREWIN, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 30. Andreas KUEN, 23. Marco TILIO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 41. Lawrence WONG.
What happened?
Newcastle started the stronger of the two teams before play was halted due to lightning. Once the game resumed, City took control despite some scrappy moments as both sides settled back into the contest.
A smart flick-on from Andreas Kuen in the 29th minute allowed Ugarkovic to muscle his way into the penalty area, but his strike was well saved by Noah James.
Max Caputo, fresh off his first professional brace, was next to go close, receiving with his back to goal before swiveling and firing a quick shot—again denied by James.
Mathew Leckie was a constant threat throughout the first half and came close to opening the scoring just before the break.
He remained heavily involved early in the second half, cutting the ball back for Caputo, whose first-time effort forced yet another sharp save.
On his 100th City appearance, Nathaniel Atkinson nearly found the net in the 66th minute, latching onto a loose ball in the box after a great run from Marco Tilio.
Some quick footwork saw him round a defender and create space to shoot, but Jets defender Phillip Cancar threw himself in the way with a crucial goal-line block.
City’s relentless pressure saw wave after wave of attack, dominating Newcastle with a staggering 14-0 corner count, but the breakthrough just wouldn’t come.
A well-worked set piece saw Kai Trewin rise highest in the box and direct a header on target, only for James to produce another brilliant save. Harry Politidis went close on the follow-up but may have been offside.
Frustration turned to disbelief moments later as Newcastle punished City on the counter, with Lachie Rose finishing clinically to give the visitors the lead.
Despite throwing everything forward in the closing stages, City couldn’t find a way through, with James and the Newcastle defence holding firm to deny a deserved equaliser.
What’s next?
City will now have an extended break, with a bye leading into the upcoming international window.
We’ll return to action on Saturday, 29 March, with an away trip to Allianz Stadium to face Sydney FC.
