Eli Adams scores 96th-minute equaliser to send Jets through
eli adams scored in the 96th minute for the Newcastle Jets against Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium. The equaliser turned a 1-0 deficit into a 1-1 draw on the night and dragged the A-League semi-final into extra time.
McDonald Jones Stadium pressure
The Jets were 1-0 down five minutes into stoppage time before Adams finished Daniel Wilmering’s hopeful ball from the left with a half-volley past Harrison Devenish-Meares. That kept Newcastle alive after Piero Quispe had scored in the 63rd minute for Sydney FC.
Daniel McBreen called it, “That is a phenomenal finish in the circumstances”. Daniel Garb added it was a “truly incredible all time A-League moment”.
Adams keeps finding the net
The equaliser also fits Adams’ recent run. He has scored five goals in his past four matches, including against Sydney FC in the first leg of the semi-final last week and against Avondale in the Australia Cup semi-final.
The Jets have scored 15 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season. That is the sort of late output that can change a tie when one goal is enough to rescue it.
Sydney FC and extra time
The immediate consequence is simple. Sydney FC could not close out the match after taking the lead, and the semi-final went to extra time at 2-2 on aggregate.
Football360 had posted a video earlier in the week asking whether Adams has the best left peg in the A-League. This finish gave that question a sharper edge than any highlight reel could.
