Blues can't weather storm - Sydney Morning Herald

NEWCASTLE JETS 2 SYDNEY FC 2

Alessandro Del Piero ... scored Sydney's first goal but couldn't propel his team to victory. Photo: Getty Images

AS IT HAPPENED

THERE was a lightning strike that severed power to the ground, intermittent sideways rainstorms and a rip-roaring gale. But the only howlers that mattered to Sydney FC were the two provided by Newcastle's defence, each of which gifted the visitors a goal and were seemingly about to send the Sky Blues into the top six for the first time this season.

However, after conceding a penalty on 15 minutes, 12,428 brave fans were treated to late drama, when Sydney FC captain Terry McFlynn was sent off in the 89th minute for a handball on the goal line and Ryan Griffiths calmly slotted his second penalty of the afternoon to leave the game deadlocked.

It had been 1-1 at the break after an Alessandro Del Piero goal on 12 minutes, created when teenage Jets defender Connor Chapman was dispossessed, was cancelled just three minutes later by Griffiths.

Sydney FC pinched the lead on 56 minutes, when Blake Powell found himself on the end of another present from the Jets' defence, this time a mistake by former Sky Blue, Ruben Zadkovich. But the final twist was perhaps a fitting end to an unpredictable match.

Both squads were depleted, the Jets without Jobe Wheelhouse, who departed abruptly on Thursday, though Sydney FC were harder hit without defenders Tiago Calvano and Fabio (both suspended), midfielder Brett Emerton (injured) and striker Yairo Yau, who was on international duty with Panama. Sydney's new forward, Joel Griffiths - the brother of Adam and Ryan - was ruled out after receiving a three-match ban following an incident in the previous round. The absentees, however, hardly detracted from an intriguing match.

After a timid start, Newcastle showed the early initiative, launching a series of raids down the right wing. Yet, against the run of play, Sydney seized on Chapman's mistake, in which he lost the ball in a tackle, when the ball ricocheted to Del Piero, who placed it past goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

Newcastle struck back just three minutes later, when Ryan Griffiths was brought down by Rhyan Grant in the penalty area and referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. Griffiths scored, but not before his brother Adam was cautioned by the referee for being a nuisance, the first of three Sky Blues yellow cards for the half.

A nasty rainstorm signalled a change of tack. Del Piero was brought down about 30 metres out and, with the gale behind him, thumped the resulting free kick towards the top left corner, where Birighitti did well to parry it away.

Del Piero was brilliant again on the stroke of half-time, playing a long diagonal ball from the left sideline to the right wing, providing Terry Antonis with a one-on-one, which was saved by Birighitti.

The start of the second half was punctuated by Sydney FC goalkeeper coach Zeljko Kalac being banished to the stands, not long before a neatly worked move between Del Piero and Grant from a free kick ended with an Ali Abbas headed chance.

Antonis was the next Sky Blue to go into the book, but ill-discipline didn't stop Sydney taking the lead. The goal went to Powell nearing the hour mark and began when McFlynn dispossessed Zadkovich, leaving Del Piero with the ball and space. Del Piero dribbled downfield and passed to Abbas, whose shot was parried into the path of Powell. The young striker buried the chance.

A 76th minute double change, with Zenon Caravella and James Virgili introduced, lifted the Jets before Griffiths equalised in the 88th minute.

NEWCASTLE JETS 2 (Ryan Griffiths 16m pen, 89m pen) SYDNEY FC 2 (Alessandro Del Piero 12m, Blake Powell 57m) at Hunter Stadium. Crowd: 12,428. Referee: Jarred Gillett.