Sydney FC lost its second pre-season game in four days as James Virgili led Newcastle Jets to a 1-0 victory at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong. 6540 turned out to see the A-League clubs clash as Richard Garcia made his Sydney debut. Yet it was the Jets’ 21-year-old forward who continued his form with a second half goal, giving Virgili seven pre-season goals.
Newcastle Jets beat Sydney FC behind James Virgili’s second half goal
Wollongong hosted the two New South Wales clubs in a preview of the A-League’s season opening match.
Virgili nearly opened scoring in the 8th minute but a kick save from Vedran Janjetovic denied the Jets an early lead. Sydney had its best chance just before half-time when Garcia fed teenager Chris Naumoff but Mark Birighitti was up to the task, saving the close range shot. In the second half, before Newcastle brought on the likes of Joey Gibbs, Adam Taggart and Emile Heskey, Virgili scored the game’s only goal after receiving a pass from half-time substitute Zenon Caravalla, cutting inside Tiago and shooting past Janjetovic.
The well attended match in Wollongong was a preview of the A-League’s season opening tie, now just four weeks away. The Jets and Sky Blues will meet again on Friday October 11 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Scoring:
NUJ Virgili (Caravella) 53’
Line-ups:
Sydney FC: Janjetovic; Ryall, Warren (Petkovski 75’), Jurman, Tiago; Carle, Abbas, Gligor (McFlynn 74’); Garcia (Mallia 68’), Naumoff, Chianese
Unused subs: Necevski, Bosschaart
Newcastle Jets: Birighitti (Kennedy 46’); Hoole (Neville 46’), Regan, Goodwin (Gibbs 64’), Jaliens (Taggart 64’); Pepper, Kantarovski (Chapman 64’), Oxborrow; Zadkovich (Caravella 46’), Bridges (Heskey 64’), Virgili
Unused subs: none
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