The Newcastle Jets’ heroic goalkeeper Ryan Scott helped them hold on for a scoreless draw against Melbourne City, who were aiming for the A-League Men’s finals.
After Melbourne City wasted the opportunity to get back into the A-League Men top six in a furious draw with Newcastle, interim coach Raffaele Napoli has bemoaned his team’s lack of creativity.
With head coach Aurelio Vidmar away due to sickness, assistant Napoli was temporarily in charge of City, who were in dire need of three points against the ailing Jets at AAMI Park.
But the home side couldn’t find a way past resolute Newcastle goalkeeper Ryan Scott in the 0-0 draw, missing out on what would have been a third straight win.
City remain seventh on the ladder, four points behind fifth-placed Sydney FC after their 2-0 win over Central Coast later on Saturday and one adrift of Western Sydney.
Newcastle stay 11th, winless in nine matches in a streak dating back more than two months.
Scott had a huge hand in the result, brilliantly denying Max Caputo’s second-half volley at close range, before Steven Ugarkovic sent a follow-up shot wide with the gaping net at his mercy.
The Newcastle gloveman again came to his side’s rescue in the sixth minute of added time, tipping Jamie Maclaren’s header over the bar.
City, who put seven goals past the Wanderers in their previous outing, had 19 shots overall and nine on target against the Jets but failed to find a breakthrough.
“We definitely had enough opportunities and enough possession to win the game but we probably lacked a little bit of cutting edge in the final third at times,” Napoli said.
“We’ve been pretty efficient in the last two games and that’s been a little bit the story of our season – a bit inconsistent.
“But all in all the lads were terrific. Their effort, intensity, desire … they did everything that we asked from them.
“And considering that Viddy (Vidmar) wasn’t here, it wasn’t easy for the players.”
The flashpoint in a fiery encounter came when City winger Leo Natel tangled with Callum Timmins and appeared to headbutt Kosta Grozos in the ensuing argument.
Natel was lucky to survive a video review of the second-half incident, which sparked a melee between the sides that held up play for several minutes.
Napoli called Socceroos attacker Mathew Leckie and club captain Maclaren off the bench after the break, but neither could capitalise on City’s dominance to find a match-winning goal.
It was Leckie’s first appearance since February 24 because of soreness associated with earlier knee and hamstring injuries and then illness.
Newcastle midfielder Daniel Wilmering forced Jamie Young into a late diving save with a left-footed drive from long range, but it was one of few clear-cut chances for the visitors.
It was a fifth draw in the Jets’ winless run against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty around the club’s future.
“I was really happy with the boys – their resilience and the way they applied themselves,” Newcastle coach Rob Stanton said.
“They stood up for themselves. It was a top performance, a top effort, and I think it showed some great character and good progression from a young team.”
