The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have drawn 1-all with the Newcastle Jets this afternoon at Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow in a pre-season match.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have drawn 1-all with the Newcastle Jets this afternoon at Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow in a pre-season match.
It was the Wanderers second match against an A-League opposition and the squad again showed that they will be a team that no one can take lightly come the season proper.
Defender Adam D-apuzzo believes things are coming together nicely for the Wanderers and was happy with the result today.
“We showed today that we can compete,” he said. “The Jets probably got the jump on us in the first half but when we came out in the second half we were able to create some chances and we finished with a goal.
The former Jet set up the goal for Kresinger and he said he was keen to make up for some prior mistakes.
“I wanted to make up for some earlier mistakes so it was good to connect with the ball and Dino did a good job getting his head to it and put it in the back of the net,” he added.
It didn-t take long for the Jets to create their first opportunity when in just the second minute a through ball was run on to by Jobe Wheelhouse but with just Goal Keeper Jerrad Tyson to beat the Jets striker couldn-t bypass Tyson who pulled off a great save.
Just seven minutes later the Jets were on the attack again and on this occasion they were able to convert to register the opening goal of the match. After an initial strike was blocked by Michael Beauchamp, the deflection ended at the feet of Jets right fullback Scott Neville who settled and with the breeze behind him struck the ball from 30m out and it crashed into the back of the net past Tyson. It was a quality strike that provided the Jets fans with something to cheer about.
The Wanderers had a number of opportunities in the first half but could not put anything past Jets Goal Keeper Mark Brighitti. Froward Mark Bridge had a great chance in the 27th minute beating four defenders but the Parramatta junior couldn-t get a clean strike away.
The 30th minute saw the Wanderers earn back-to-back corners but both attacking chances were unable to be converted by the visitors.
The first half saw both sides receive one booking each with Josh Mitchell receiving a yellow card in the 39th minute and Italian Iacopo La Rocca receiving a yellow card in the 44th minute.
As both sides returned to the pitch the Wanderers had made one change to their starting 11 with La Rocca making way for Reece Caira in the midfield.
As the match entered the 61st minute the Wanderers were able to level the score through forward Dino Kresinger. After Tyson put the ball out to Adam D-apuzzo on the left, the former Jets player was able to carry the ball forward 15m before putting in a precise cross that Kresinger was able to get his head to sending it into the right hand corner to level at 1-all.
As the second stanza continued we saw a number of changes for both sides with Tarek Elrich, Shannon Cole, Tahj Minniecon, Labinot Haliti and Jake McGing all coming on replacing Dino Kresinger, Jerome Polenz, Youssouf Hersi, Mateo Poljak and Mark Bridge.
The closing stages of the match proved to be very entertaining with both teams pushing forward and looking to claim a winner but both defensive lines held strong and the scores remained level as the referee blew the full-time whistle.
