Newcastle Jets delivered one of their most compelling performances of the season on Saturday night, using local pride, youthful fearlessness, and tactical discipline to claim a memorable 2-0 victory over traditional rivals Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium. In front of a passionate home crowd, two Newcastle-born players rose to the occasion, etching their names into club folklore and reshaping the A-League Men ladder in the process.
Teenager Will Dobson and fellow academy graduate Xavier Bertoncello were the heroes of the night, each finding the back of the net in the second half to propel the Jets to an upset win over the Sky Blues. The result not only snapped a frustrating winless run against Sydney FC but also pushed Newcastle into fourth place on the table with a 4-0-5 record, reigniting belief around the club as the season gathers momentum.
The opening half was a tense, hard-fought affair, with both sides struggling to land a decisive early blow. Newcastle showed intent from the outset, pressing aggressively and looking to unsettle Sydney’s defensive structure. Lachlan Rose spearheaded the Jets’ frontline with his trademark energy, constantly harrying defenders and making sharp runs in behind. However, despite their positive start, the home side failed to capitalise on early opportunities.
Rose’s best chance came just three minutes into the contest when he found himself unmarked directly in front of goal, only to blaze his effort over the crossbar. It was a moment that briefly silenced the home crowd and underlined the fine margins that often define matches between these two sides. Sydney FC, for their part, gradually grew into the game, relying on their composure and experience to absorb pressure and probe on the counter.
Central defender Marcel Tisserand played a crucial role for the Sky Blues, working tirelessly to contain the twin threats of Rose and Clayton Taylor. Meanwhile, Al-Hassan Toure and Abel Walatee provided Sydney with attacking impetus, peppering the Newcastle goal with a series of efforts that kept goalkeeper James Delianov alert. Toure, who had tormented the Jets with a hat-trick in their round-three meeting earlier in the season, looked keen to repeat the feat but was unable to rediscover that same clinical edge.
One of Sydney’s clearest chances before halftime came in the 39th minute when Walatee delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Toure met it but failed to direct his shot on target, much to the frustration of the visiting bench. The miss proved costly, as the Jets regrouped at the break and emerged for the second half with renewed purpose.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute through a moment of sharp thinking and determination from Will Dobson. A clever exchange between Dobson and winger Clayton Taylor sliced open Sydney’s defensive lines and tempted goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares off his line. Dobson’s initial shot was well saved, but the young midfielder showed composure beyond his years, reacting quickest to the rebound and bundling the ball home at the second attempt.
The goal sent McDonald Jones Stadium into raptures and visibly shifted the momentum in Newcastle’s favour. Sydney FC attempted to respond by injecting fresh legs, with coach Ufuk Talay turning to mercurial winger Joe Lolley in the 68th minute. However, the substitution would soon backfire, compounding the Sky Blues’ woes on an already difficult night.
As the Jets continued to defend resolutely and counter with confidence, they were dealt a blow of their own. Captain Kosta Grozos went down in the 72nd minute, clutching his left shoulder during a stoppage in play. The defensive midfielder attempted to soldier on, but the discomfort was evident, and he was eventually forced from the field six minutes later. Coach Mark Milligan now faces an anxious wait to assess the severity of the injury, with Grozos’ leadership and balance in midfield crucial to Newcastle’s recent resurgence.
Any lingering nerves among the home supporters were put to rest in the 84th minute, courtesy of a stunning strike from Xavier Bertoncello. Set up by Alexander Badolato, Bertoncello unleashed a sensational effort from the top left corner of the box, curling the ball beyond Devenish-Meares and into the far corner of the net. It was a goal worthy of winning any match and a fitting reward for a player whose development has mirrored the Jets’ commitment to nurturing local talent.
While Newcastle celebrated, Sydney FC’s night went from bad to worse. Lolley, making his return from a hamstring issue, re-injured his right hamstring late in the match. The winger was visibly in agony after striking the ball in the 89th minute, leaving the Sky Blues with further injury concerns as they head into a congested part of the season.
The final whistle confirmed a result that had significant implications at both ends of the table. Sydney FC, now sitting at 6-0-3, relinquished top spot after suffering their third defeat of the campaign, allowing Auckland FC to move ahead. For Newcastle, the win evened the ledger between the two sides this season, following their heavy 4-1 loss to the Sky Blues in round three.
There were also historic moments despite the defeat for Sydney, with 16-year-old Akol Akon introduced in the second half to become the youngest A-League player to feature for the club. Akon showed glimpses of promise, testing his luck with a long-range effort in the 60th minute, though the shot lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Delianov.
Ultimately, the night belonged to Newcastle and its homegrown heroes. Dobson and Bertoncello embodied the spirit of the club, combining hunger, resilience, and quality to deliver a performance that will resonate with supporters long after the season concludes. As the Jets look ahead, this victory may well be remembered as a turning point—proof that belief, youth, and local pride can still topple the A-League’s traditional heavyweights.
