The first of two blockbuster Saturday night A-League fixtures saw the F3 Derby end in a 1-1 draw between the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast.
Scott Miller’s squad looked slightly overwhelmed by the occasion and never really found a footing, unable to breakdown a valiant Mariners who were forced to play the majority of the match a man down.
Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones had his hands full from the opening whistle, with arguable calls for a penalty at both ends coming early on. The controversy quickly hit a peak though, when Jake McGing’s outing was cut short after what looked to be a very thoughtless challenge on Leonardo, which saw the Brazilian midfielder stretchered off the field. While the numerical advantage gave the hosts the momentum, a timid attack had to wait until the 83rd minute to take the lead on the scoreboard through a Milos Trifunovic header. This would not be enough to claim the F3 bragging-rights though, as in the dying moments of the game Matt Sim would pounce on a loose ball to rescue a deserved point for Central Coast.
With fans on both sides providing mixed reactions after the result, here is the best of what Twitter had to say:
Crossing fingers for Leonardo @NewcastleJetsFC playmaker . I don't like to see players get hurt #F3Derby great game so far #fromUSA
— Marcos Flores (@MarcosFlores85) November 14, 2015
You can tell @NewcastleJetsFC are playing when they struggle to break down 10 men #Wherestheeffort #WelcomeToNewcaslte #NEWvCCM
— Shaneo Insaneo (@NotoriousNUFC) November 14, 2015
He's a bit of a red card merchant KGJ but I reckon he's got that right. 1.5 yellow cards with a .3 loading for use of the stretcher #NEWvCCM
— Matt Coleman (@_MattColeman) November 14, 2015
Stupid challenge, don't give a notoriously bad referee a decision to make. #F3Derby
— Neil Sherwin (@neilsherwin) November 14, 2015
No problem with giving that red, stupid tackle #NEWvCCM
— Simon Mattiaccio (@smatt1616) November 14, 2015
Well done referee. No place for that sort of tackle in the game. Complete stupidity on the player's part, only himself to blame. #NEWvCCM
— Jack Quigley (@Jack_Quigley) November 14, 2015
Crowd and atmosphere aside, this match has really felt like a derby and that red card just adds even more to that feeling. #aleague #NEWvCCM
— Ryan Steele (ライアン) (@Steelinho) November 14, 2015
Piss off, that wasn't even worth a yellow, let alone a red, the refs in the @ALeague are hopeless. Poor McGing #F3Derby #NEWvCCM
— #FFACupFinalist (@CelticsSmashLA) November 14, 2015
Carney, your clogging cost your team 2 points #NEWvCCM #F3Derby
— Simon Morris (@gingereejit) November 14, 2015
Matt Sim, what a boss, Gosford's favourite Homer Simpson lookalike #CCMFC #NEWvCCM
— Tim Elbra (@hdelbs) November 14, 2015
@CCMariners One of the best performances I've seen in 11 seasons, 10 soldiers out there today, credit to those in blue. #F3Derby #MONTYYYYYY
— Paul Hart (@pauLFChart) November 14, 2015
Jets never even turned up today. Disgusted. Man up for 75mins, didn't even want to have a go. #NEWvCCM
— ShayneRarma (@ShayneRarma) November 14, 2015
Ahhh Newcastle snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. #NEWvCCM
— Dad Take Bernie (@bernietb) November 14, 2015
Playing like that is why the jets got the spoon last year. #NEWvCCM
— Webby (@WebbyHRT) November 14, 2015
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