{"id":8074,"date":"2026-05-09T12:37:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/8074\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T12:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:37:18","slug":"late-drama-as-sydney-jets-fight-out-semi-final-draw-the-border-mail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/8074\/","title":{"rendered":"Late drama as Sydney, Jets fight out semi-final draw | The Border Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SydneySydney and Newcastle couldn’t be separated in the first leg of their ALM grand final qualifier. Photo: Dean Lewins\/AAP PHOTOS<\/p>\n

Sydney FC forward Ahmet Arslan has been left fuming after being denied a late penalty in his team’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the first leg of their A-League Men semi-final showdown.<\/p>\n

In an entertaining encounter at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, Sky Blues striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring in the 50th minute with a close-range header.<\/p>\n

It was level pegging eight minutes later when Eli Adams slammed one home for the Jets, but Arslan thought he had won a penalty in the 87th minute when he was barged over by Daniel Wilmering in the box.<\/p>\n

There was doubt about whether Wilmering was shoulder-to-shoulder or slightly behind Arslan.<\/p>\n

Arslan threw his arms up in despair after the referee waved play on, with the moment proving to be the last flashpoint of the pulsating match.<\/p>\n

The second leg will be played in Newcastle, where the Jets will be aiming to snare a win in front of their home fans at McDonald Jones Stadium next Saturday night. <\/p>\n

“It was definitely tough,” Stamatelopoulos told Paramount Plus when assessing the match.<\/p>\n

“We worked really hard and created a lot more, and were unlucky not to have a few more.<\/p>\n

“I haven’t scored in a while, so it was good to get that one.”<\/p>\n

Jets goalkeeper James Delianov had a busy night, with the Sky Blues unleashing 15 shots, including six on target.<\/p>\n

“A little bit busy, but happy to play my part, and looking forward to next week,” Delianov said.<\/p>\n

“I’m proud of the boys. We’ll take 1-1, but we always want to win games.”<\/p>\n

\"AhmetAhmet Arslan was left disappointed after not getting the penalty call he was after late on. (Dean Lewins\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

Newcastle, who are aiming for the treble this season after winning the Australia Cup and finishing top of the ladder, were making their first finals appearance since losing the 2017\/18 decider.<\/p>\n

Sydney, already with five titles to their name, entered the match on the back of their 1-0 elimination final win over Melbourne Victory.<\/p>\n

Only five Jets players had tasted A-League finals action before – and none while playing for Newcastle.<\/p>\n

There were no goals in the first half but plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments as both sides embraced attacking football.<\/p>\n

Sydney defender Rhyan Grant hit the post with a fourth-minute header, and Piero Quispe unleashed a curling strike in the 28th that forced a fine diving save from Delianov.<\/p>\n

Newcastle’s best chance of the half arrived in the 33rd minute, when Adams had his header blocked on the line, before the hosts held their nerve in a goal-line scramble just as Mark Natta looked set to poke the ball home.<\/p>\n

A clever bit of body work from Stamatelopoulos after a teammate’s shot had been deflected high into the air proved key to the opening goal.<\/p>\n

After edging Natta out of the drop zone, Stamatelopoulos was able to head the ball past the advancing keeper for what was just his third goal this season.<\/p>\n

The lead was short lived, with a 60m fast break from Clayton Taylor setting up Adams for the equaliser.<\/p>\n

Australian Associated Press<\/p>\n

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