Newcastle’s fairytale season is over, with Sydney FC defeating the A-League Men premier in a semifinal penalty shootout to reach the season decider.
The Sky Blues opened the scoring at McDonald Jones Stadium through Piero Quispe’s 64th-minute goal, before a relentless Eli Adams sent Saturday night’s game into extra time with a thunderous strike.
When neither side could score the match-winner, Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares held his nerve to deny Kosta Grozos and Xavier Bertoncello in the shootout, before defender Ben Garuccio converted the winning spot kick.
The tie ended 2-2 on aggregate, but the Sky Blues claimed the tie 4-2 on penalties and will head across the Tasman to face Auckland FC in next Saturday’s grand final.
Led by interim coach Patrick Kisnorbo, Sydney will make its first grand final appearance since the Sky Blues’ 3-1 loss to Melbourne City in 2021.
Missing out on the finals last year under Ufuk Talay, the side is now vying for a record sixth championship after just seven games with Kisnorbo.
It is a heartbreaking end to Newcastle’s remarkable season under first-year coach Mark Milligan.
Having won their maiden premiership after 15 regular-season wins, the Jets have also fallen short in their bid for a historic domestic treble after claiming the Australia Cup in October.
They haven’t played for a championship since finishing runners-up to Melbourne Victory in 2018.
Peruvian international Quispe silenced the sold-out crowd of 25,082 fans after Jets goalkeeper James Delianov spilt the ball in denying Sydney teenager Akol Akon’s goal attempt.
Newcastle was gifted a golden opportunity to level in the 83rd minute when Garuccio fouled Bertoncello just outside the box.
Adams took the kick, but sent the ball into the wall of Sky Blues defenders.
The relentless young winger eventually found redemption six minutes into added time after making the most of Daniel Wilmering’s cutback to score.
Sydney was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty in an evenly paced first half.
Garuccio had downed Adams by throwing himself at the goal-bound attacker in the 31st minute, but referee Shaun Evans let the moment go.
Star Jets striker Lachlan Rose blew a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 24th, failing to get to the ball in time after a superb cross from Taylor.
A rusty Rose couldn’t conjure any magic on return from a calf injury, replaced by Ben Gisbon in the 80th minute.
AAP
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