Grand Final Wrap
Newcastle Jets are the Hyundai A-League 2008 Champions, after a highly drama-charged Grand Final against arch rivals Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Results Central Coast Mariners 0 lost NEWCASTLE JETS 1
Game Wraps It wasn-t the classic grand final that everybody was looking for, but grand final-s rarely are. There is no doubt that this was as intense a grand final as they has been in many years, with the near neighbours rivalry certainly coming to fore both on and off the field. While there was no trouble between the fans, who both traveled in their ten-s of thousands down the F3 freeway, there was certainly no love lost and both sets of fans let each other know what they thought of the opposition players throughout. On the field it only took eight seconds for the first crunching tackle by Mile Jedinak on Joel Griffiths and a few players stood face to face and not exactly inviting them to dinner after the game. This was a very physical encounter with Griffiths and Jedinak both trading yellow cards in quick succession after challenges on each other. The first meaningful chance came after 18 minutes, when Matthew Thompson was on the end of a cross in behind the defence, but his first time shot, went just over the bar. Two minutes later, Bridge was teed up by Korean Jin-Hyung Song, but his curling effort from just outside the penalty box, was inches wide of the post. The Mariners were struggling to get any rhythm and it wasn-t until the 26th minute that they had a sight on goal, with Kwasnik having a shot desperately blocked by Andrew Durante. Minutes later he had another chance, when he cut inside Song on the left, but his angled drive hit the side netting. A minute later, Greg Owens had a good sight of goal, but again desperate defending saw his shot blocked. No goals in the first half, in which there was a lot of cat and mouse between the sides and certainly no quarter given by both sets of players. Four minutes after the break, Mariners striker John Aloisi should have given his side the lead, but headed Kwasnik-s cross wide of the post. The breakthrough finally came after 64 minutes and it will be a moment not looked back at fondly by retiring Mariners defender Tony Vidmar. In his final game and having looked composed throughout, Vidmar inexplicably got the ball caught under his feet with no apparent danger. But his slip, allowed Bridge to nip in and get the ball and sprint clear towards goal. With Alex Wilkinson coming across in cover, Bridge didn-t wait and curled a terrific shot past his good mate Danny Vukovic in the Mariners goal. The goal saw the changes start coming thick and fast, as the Mariners searched earnestly for an equaliser. Matt Simon-s introduction almost paid instant dividends for the Mariners, but his shot on the turn slid by the far post. With tension mounting, Aloisi had claims for a penalty in the 86th minute, when he went down chasing a cross to the far post, but Mark Shield was having none of it. However the real drama came with just a minute to go of injury time, when a corner was swung over by Sasho Petrovski and it appeared to hit James Holland-s raised elbow, right in front of the goal. The ball diverted to Aloisi, who headed over the bar, but the Mariners players were incensed they no penalty was forthcoming. Unfortunately those protestations were taken too far by Vukovic, who was subsequently shown a red card and seconds later after play had re-started, the final whistle went. Newcastle fans, officials and players jumped around estactically, claiming the first major trophy for the region, which is regarded by many as the birthplace of the game in this country.
Goals Tally: 1
Card Count: 5 yellows - 1 red
Attendance/Average: 36,354
Goal of the Week Only one to choose from but was certainly a goal worth winning of any major final. Mark Bridge-s strike from the edge of the area after a surging 25 metre burst, was simply first class and any striker would have been proud to claim it. Jets fans will be hoping he can keep reproducing those goals for them next season and not in the colours of blue.
Player of the Week Andrew Durante is one of the unsung heroes for the Jets, but has been a very solid contributor throughout the season. He never let the Mariners strikers get the better of him physically and when desperation was required he was there blocking shots and clearing dangerous crosses. Andrew was voted the Joe Marston Medal winner for Player of the Match
Leading Goalscorers (final list including all finals) 14 Joel Griffiths (Newcastle Jets) 9 Shane Smeltz (Wellington Phoenix), Reinaldo (QR) 8 Sasho Petrovski (CCM), Alex Brosque (Sydney FC), Jamie Harnwell (Perth Glory) 7 Danny Allsopp (MV), John Aloisi (CCM)