A stoppage-time penalty from Craig Goodwin broke the hearts of Newcastle as Adelaide United scored a 2-1 win on Sunday night at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Roy O’Donovan looked to have secured the Jets a deserved point in the 75th minute of the round 10 game when he scored his first goal since serving a 10-week suspension.
Jets captain Nigel Boogaard, though, gave the visitors the winning chance when he took down Ryan Kitto in the 90th minute, and Goodwin converted from the spot.
Adelaide went ahead in the 38th minute when Nikola Mileusnic tapped in off a Ben Halloran chipped ball that hit the post and rebounded into diving Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss.
Newcastle dominated chances but did not break through until O’Donovan climbed high to score with a header at the far post off substitute Kaine Sheppard’s ball. It was his first goal since the final-round win over Central Coast last season.
The Jets had created the better opportunities but were wide with headers from O’Donovan (third minute) and Boogaard (26th) as well as a volleyed strike from Steve Ugarkovic (34th).
Brazilian Jair went closest for the Jets but his powerful shot in the 30th minute was denied by Paul Izzo’s brilliant low save.
Izzo also tipped Jair’s header just after halftime over the crossbar, dived full stretch to deny Dimi Petratos’ strike in the 70th minute and stopped Sheppard’s header in the 88th in a standout performance.
Newcastle thought they had an equaliser in the 67th minute when O’Donovan tapped in Jair’s cross but he was called offside — a decision that the VAR confirmed.
Jets coach Ernie Merrick lamented another game of missed opportunities for his side, who have just nine goals in nine matches this season.
“We had something like 47 entries into their penalty box to their 18, and the shots were 27 to 13,” Merrick said.
“We really need to put those shots away otherwise we’re shooting ourselves in the foot and we’re not going to create too much this year at all, and that comes down to individual play.”
He said goalkeeper Glen Moss, who was replaced by Lewis Italiano at half-time, would miss at least two weeks because of an eight-centimetre gash on his thigh from a challenge. Newcastle host Brisbane on Wednesday.
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz was proud of the effort and performance from his side in steamy conditions just four days after a 2-2 draw with Western Sydney.
“It is always hard to play in Newcastle and also against Newcastle because the offensive style from them, it’s very good and maybe the best in the league,” Kurz said.