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March 9 AAP – A dramatic Nikolai Topor-Stanley goal in the 90th minute gave the Newcastle Jets a last-gasp 1-1 A-League draw with Gold Coast United at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
United had scored on 24 minutes with a clinical strike from Daniel Bowles but, ultimately, were unable to hang on as the Jets surged into fifth spot on the ladder.
With the home side coming off a dominant 3-1 win over the Melbourne Victory last weekend, it was expected the Jets would have too much class for Mike Mulvey’s young Gold Coast squad.
Despite the uncertainty of their playing future and without a win since defeating Brisbane Roar on Boxing Day, the youngsters ambushed Newcastle with enthusiastic attacking play.
The first-half chance of the match fell to Gold Coast’s Maceo Rigters, but the striker was unable to get good contact on the ball and his attempted header flashed wide.
Francis Jeffers should have netted the game’s opener for the Jets after 16 minutes but the Englishman’s first touch was too heavy and the chance went begging.
The Jets came to rue that missed chance when the visitors took full advantage of a cheap turnover and Bowles netted his first A-League goal with a composed strike after some swift counter-attacking from his teammates.
The visitors should have doubled their lead on the half hour but Bowles spurned a golden opportunity, blasting over the top of the bar when one-on-one with Jets keeper Ben Kennedy.
Gary van Egmond’s introduction of substitute Jeremy Brockie shortly before halftime came close to paying dividends with the striker heading wide after some strong lead-up play from the Jets.
Jerrad Tyson showed good awareness pulling off a sliding save to deny Taylor Regan on the hour, while his counterpart Kennedy showed similar alertness to thwart a stinging Chris Harold shot ten minutes later.
Brockie had a chance to slot home an equaliser for the home side after 76 minutes but the New Zealand international blasted his shot wide.
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