Melbourne City have continued their stranglehold over Newcastle, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Jets in oppressive heat at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday evening.
Heat and a single moment define the contest
The match was played in sizzling conditions, with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s at the Broadmeadow venue. This forced mandatory drinks breaks every 15 minutes for player welfare. The extreme weather led to the postponement of the A-League Women's fixture in Gosford, but the men's game proceeded as scheduled in front of a sparse crowd, the Jets' lowest home attendance of the season.
Despite the challenging environment, Newcastle started brightly, controlling the opening 15 minutes and earning a slew of early corners. However, they failed to capitalise on their early dominance.
Rahmani strike capitalises on defensive blunder
The game's defining moment arrived in the 27th minute, born from a costly Jets mistake. Defender Mark Natta's errant pass from the back was intercepted by City, presenting them with a golden opportunity. The ball fell to Kavian Rahmani at the top of the box, and the City forward made no mistake, firing a left-footed strike that beat goalkeeper James Delianov, clipped the right post, and nestled in the net.
That solitary goal separated the sides, with reigning champions Melbourne City expertly managing their lead against a determined Jets outfit. The home side's new ocean-blue third kit provided the only visual relief from the relentless heat on the pitch.
Jets rue missed chances in spirited second-half fight
Newcastle refused to surrender and launched a series of attacking raids after halftime. Substitute Eli Adams made an immediate impact, and the Jets thought they had equalised in the 54th minute when Lachie Rose found the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The home side's pressure intensified as the sun began to set. Mark Natta came agonisingly close to redeeming his earlier error, thundering a shot against the crossbar in the 75th minute. Later, Max Burgess sent a dangerous cross across the face of goal in the dying stages, but no Newcastle player could apply the finishing touch.
City, missing key attackers Matthew Leckie and Andrew Nabbout, held firm to secure their fifth consecutive victory in Newcastle, a streak dating back years. The win propels them into third place on the A-League ladder.
For the Jets, the defeat is a bitter pill after their inspiring win over Auckland the previous week. The result leaves them 11th on the table with a 2-5 record, just one point above the bottom-placed Melbourne Victory. Their attention now turns to a challenging trip to New Zealand to face the Wellington Phoenix, who will be without suspended defender James Manjrekar.
