Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney
Newcastle Jets strike late to see off Western Sydney Wanderers
Teenager Angus Thurgate has proved the match-winner again as Newcastle Jets edged out Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The 19-year-old, who scored in Newcastle's last-start 1-0 win over Western United, came on in the 63rd minute on Saturday night and struck on the turn in a goalmouth scramble on 15 minutes later. He then beat the offside trap near halfway before setting up Dimi Petratos for a tap-in and the match sealer in the 86th.
The round-eight performance continues an amazing run for Thurgate who scored the clincher in a 3-2 victory over the Wanderers last season. His three A-League goals have all come in matches won by the Jets. Western Sydney were frustrated when denied a penalty on review after Kwame Yeboah went down close to goal under a challenge from Lachlan Jackson in the 53rd minute.
The visitors went closest to scoring when Jets keeper Glen Moss made a double save to deny Mitchell Duke and Yeboah, before Duke hit a third chance over the bar in the 62nd minute.
Newcastle had the better chances in a first half where Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Lopar starred. Jason Hoffman (15th minute) and Nick Fitzgerald (31st) were one-on-one with Lopar but the Swiss shot-stopper smothered both attempts. He also denied further chances from Panamanian striker Abdiel Arroyo and Fitzgerald before the break, the second with a spectacular full-stretch effort.
Moss had little to do in the opening half but he stood tall in the 45th minute when rising to tip a Duke rocket onto the crossbar.
The loss extended the Wanderers (10 points) winless streak to four-games after starting win three straight victories, while Newcastle rise to seventh on the ladder with eight points from six games.
Game Information
Australian A-League Men Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Jets | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | +13 | 43 |
| Auckland FC | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | +14 | 39 |
| Melbourne Victory | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | +10 | 35 |
| Adelaide United | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | +7 | 35 |
| Sydney FC | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | +6 | 33 |
| Macarthur FC | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | -8 | 28 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | -3 | 27 |
| Wellington Phoenix FC | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | -8 | 27 |
| Melbourne City FC | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | -6 | 26 |
| Brisbane Roar | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | -7 | 24 |
| Perth Glory | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -10 | 23 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -8 | 21 |

