CONTROVERSIAL club owner and chairman Nathan Tinkler made a surprise appearance at Newcastle Jets’ pulsating 4-3 loss to Sydney FC At Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
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Tinkler, who had never attended a Jets home match before, braved a potentially hostile reception from fans, as he stood next to the Jets’ most vocal support group The Squadron.
Many fans have expressed an unhappiness with Tinkler’s decisions regarding the club, including the sacking of five senior players in January of this year.
In a post match interview with Fox Sports, Tinkler assured fans that he had ‘‘a plan’’ for the club.
On the field, the Jets were unlucky to walk away with a loss following a good attacking display.
Newcastle took the lead through Serbian import Enver Alivodic on 21 minutes.
Edson Montano released Alivodic with a fine chipped-through-ball, and the Serb produced a deft lob to beat Vedran Janjetovic.
The Jets held their lead until half-time, however, it all went pear-shapped following the restart.
Newcastle’s defensive frailty was again on show with the Jets shipping three goals in the space of 10 minutes right after the break.
Sydney captain Alex Brosque broke clear of a static Jets defence to equalise in the 49th minute, before Bernie Ibini put the Sky Blues ahead two minutes later.
Brosque then extended Sydney’s lead with a diving header which found the far corner of the goal on 56 minutes.
To their credit, the Jets found their feet to mount a stirring comeback.
Montano scored a goal of his own on 67 minutes, turning home an Andrew Hoole cross through the legs of Janjetovic to give Newcastle hope.
The Jets were then awarded a penalty when Hoole was brought down in the box. The 21-year-old stepped up the send the ’keeper then wrong way and score his first ever A-League goal.
Ironically, Hoole’s maiden goal came against the side he will join next season having decided to leave Newcastle at season’s end.
Unfortunately, Newcastle’s good work was undone by a moment of goalkeeping madness from Ben Kennedy.
Kennedy came out to claim a looping cross but got no where near the ball, with Sydney striker Shane Smeltz nodding the ball back to Robert Stambolziev who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net.
Newcastle will wrap up their season with a trip to Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
