The Bulls and Newcastle Jets ended a thrilling match at McDonald Jones Stadium, sharing the points after some late-game goals.
A warm Sunday evening at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle concluded with the Bulls and Newcastle Jets sharing the spoils. Both Kristian Popovic and Tommy Smith made their Starting Bulls debut. In the first half, the Bulls sat back and absorbed pressure in the midfield, waiting for the perfect chance to strike and secure the opener.
Defender Tomislav Uskok had his fair share of chances in front of goal, with two headers from set pieces going just wide and one being collected by Jets’ goalkeeper Ryan Scott. Jed Drew also had a fantastic chance at goal, rattling the woodwork after a scathing shot. However, neither team could break the deadlock in the first half, heading into halftime at 0-0.
The Bulls were ready for the second half, inching closer to the opener. Goalkeeper Filip Kurto had another great performance, denying the Jets at every opportunity. The Bulls finally broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, with captain Ulises Davila firing the ball from outside the box into the back of the net. The Jets responded with an equaliser just a minute later through Archie Goodwin.
However, this did not slow the Bulls down, with Valere Germain securing a second for the Bulls in the 81st minute, tapping in a beautiful cross delivered by Ulises Davila. Ali Auglah, Charles M’Mombwa, Bernardo, Jerry Skotadis, and Lachlan Rose all made appearances for the Bulls off the bench, replacing Raphael, Kealey Adamson, Jed Drew, Kristian Popovic, and Valere Germain.
Unfortunately, the Bulls were unable to hold onto their lead, as the Jets were awarded a penalty after Charles M’Mombwa brought down a Jets player in the box. The Jets converted the penalty through Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in the 89th minute. The Bulls continued to push for that final goal throughout injury time but couldn’t convert their chances, ending the match in a 2-2 draw.
Want to see the Bulls play live? The Bulls are back in action at home on Friday 1st of March, 2024 at 7:45pm, for round 19 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men against Melbourne City at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Tickets are now on sale, so remember to secure your seat today!
