Western United bowed out of the 2024 Australia Cup on Wednesday night, falling 4-1 against Newcastle Jets in the Play Off fixture in Darwin.
Despite leading all the positive metrics including expected goals, possession, shots on target and total passes, the Green and Black ended up on the wrong side of a scoreline that didn’t necessarily tell the whole tale.
The Jets were clinical when they had chances on goal and were in command by half-time with a Ben Garuccio own goal and strikes from Thomas Aquilina and Nathan Grimaldi opening up a three-goal cushion.
Aquilina added a second after the hour mark but Riku Danzaki ensured there was something tangible to take out of the game, finishing into an empty net just before injury time.
Western United Team News
John Aloisi’s first competitive line-up of the season featured a debut for Tate Russell at right-back and a first ever senior start for James York, who lined up alongside James Donachie in the heart of defence.
Rhys Bozinovski made his first competitive start since December 2022, operating as an advanced midfielder in support of Oliver Lavale, who got the nod up front with new signing Hiroshi Ibusuki slotting onto the bench.
Luka Coveny and Mark Leonard lay in waiting for their professional debuts on the bench, while Tomoki Imai didn’t make the trip due to back soreness.
First Half
Both teams spent the opening exchanges feeling each other out rather than showing any real penetration, but the first flash of danger came from United as Matthew Grimaldi cut inside from the left and drew a save from Ryan Scott at his near post.
The Green and Black looked positive in possession and sought to break lines and play the ball forward, but the Jets took the lead on 17 minutes after Garuccio diverted a low cross into his own net.
Aloisi’s side remained confident in possession and despite spending the majority of the first half hour on the ball, the Jets doubled their lead when Aquilina volleyed home from the edge of the box.
Grimaldi came close to hitting back straight away after an excellent run by Bozinovski, but he couldn’t get a clean connection on the cutback and his effort fell harmlessly into Scott’s hands.
Western United had nine corners in the first half but couldn’t find an effort on target, leaving the door open for Newcastle to get a third as Grimaldi fired into the roof of the net after a deep free-kick.
Second Half
Western United set about finishing the game on a high note and kept much of its purpose in possession coming out of the half-time interval.
There was still plenty to like on the ball and Garuccio was getting involved on the left touchline, firing a shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Bozinovski looked United’s biggest threat with his speed and ambition on the ball and the new No.23 carved out two chances within seconds, first putting Lavale in behind before teeing up Garuccio who cleared the crossbar at the back post.
Aloisi’s first two changes were to bring on Ibusuki for his Western United debut and Abel Walatee on the hour mark, and both players were immediately involved in the play,
Walatee burst forward with a lovely bit of skill before his shot was deflected out for a corner from which Ibusuki powered a header narrowly wide of the target.
As the Green and Black continued to commit men forward in search of a comeback, the gaps were open at the back and Newcastle exploited that just after the hour mark as Aquilina completed his brace.
There was a special moment for Leonard with the youngster coming on for his professional debut with 15 minutes to play, capping off a special night for the family after his brother Dylan captained the Young Socceroos to a 1-0 win over Myanmar earlier on.
Leonard quickly put himself about, getting on the ball ad linking up with his fellow Western United Academy teammates and substitutes Walatee and Jordan Lauton who kept United’s energy up until the final whistle.
It was fitting then that Leonard had a hand in creating United’s goal, latching onto a through ball from Russell before flashing an excellent cross into the box.
Scott could only parry the low ball into the path of Danzaki who finished strongly into the vacant net to give the Green and Black something to celebrate.
There was time for one more positive as, immediately after the goal, Coveny came off the bench for his professional debut, but the night ultimately ended in disappointment as United failed to reach the Australia Cup Final Rounds.
