Source : ABC NEWS
Following a surprise household loss to second-placed Auckland FC, the Newcastle Jets have now won their first A-League title.
The Central Coast Mariners won the championship game 1-0 apart from Auckland on Sunday with a sucker-punch purpose from Ali Auglah in the 19th minute.
The loss leaves the New Zealanders without a four-point lead over the Jet in the last round of the following weekend.
Auckland’s top-two position is also instantly vulnerable. Next Sunday at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney FC may take second place with a three-goal get over the Black Knights.
After Saturday’s F3 newcastle against their archrivals the Mariners in Newcastle, the Jets will be overjoyed and enthralled to receive the Premier’s Plate.
Auckland’s loss means Newcastle can no longer be caught at the top of the table. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
When James Donachie, a Central Coast keeper, was sent off for unduly treading on Auckland scorer Sam Cosgrove after the couple collided in a mid-air obstacle, the match erupted in the 13th moment.
Officials weighed replays for a number of minutes before choosing not to issue a red card, saying they could not be sure whether Donachie’s foolish behavior was planned.
The Jets currently have the ninth-placed Mariners to blame for creating one of the biggest upsets of the time, a first-ever get over Auckland, no less.
The Mariners defied an disturbing lack of hands to launch a comprehensive counter-attack that ended with Auglah dissipating a lavish through-ball from Nathanael Blair and taking a shocking result.
Jessie Mantell, a teen winger, skillfully started the invasion, allowing Blair to take his place down the left.
Auglah’s second purpose in four matches added to his prospects for a call-up from Graham Arnold for the looming World Cup a few days after declaring to Iraq.
Auckland immediately needed to win the Premier League title from the Jet after going down for the first time this year.
And it wasn’t.
When Lachie Brook was booked for opposition, the midfielder angry that he had missed a throw-in full in the Black Knights, the emotions boiled over.
Brook had been yellow-carded twice in a column for an overreaction, and he is walking a rope in preparation for the playoffs.
Participants were forced off the area 10 days before halftime as a surprise slammed Mount Smart Stadium as if there weren’t now much thunder and lightning on the ball.
Auckland emerged from the 30-minute delay revitalized and focused, but they were unable to get an equaliser.
Andrew Redmayne, a former Socceroos keeper, was called on to keep several shots on target, but Donachie’s wonderful goal-line save, a 68th-minute Brook folder, best represents the Mariners ‘ passionate defense.
AAP
