Jets fly to Asia and the Grand Final

Newcastle 3 Queensland Roar 2 (AET)

"Hello to everyone in Queensland," says Newcastle Jets winning striker Joel Griffith on Fox Sports after the game.

Quote of the year? Or has he family up there, but seemed a great wind-up at the time.


Bruise Brothers Sach Ognenovski and Craig Moore, so the banner said, and weren't they. Clearly out to intimidate. Joel Griffith got it, Adam Griffith got it, Moore gave it brutally to Song Jin Hyung and Mark Bridge was one too many. Crude and rude stuff. Moore sent-of in extra-time.

PenaltiesThe game had three with the Jets to make it 2-1 a real dodgy call. No penalty when the Korean Song went to ground.

Crowd 17,000 pre-sold tickets, major semi and only 16,000 turned up. They sang and went wild...but maybe football has a way to go just yet, either that or a late kick-off on a Sunday is a bad time, or there was cloud in the distance, or Novacastrians aren't quite so mad on football. We'll see next week.

Coach Celebration Frank Farina really gave it some hand shaking arm extension tension after Reinaldo equalised from the spot in the LAST minute of normal time.

Best Brazilian Miss Denni tried hard late on, but no-one and I mean no-one can beat Marcinho, the man with the most shots and least goals in the league. He missed from two yards. Terrific Brazilian touch.

Commentator Classics Mike and Andy niggle away at each other, contradicting each other as they go. Seems tense, seems like there is an edge, a couple of big ego's in the very small commentary box?

Players The big duffers up the back for the Roar, Michael Zullo, James Holland Mark Bridge all played important parts. Tarik Elrich was better tonight and scored a cracker to win the game. Ante Covic, Socceroo keeper give me a break.

Substitution Troy Hearfield on and then off. On entering the field big Ogmonster gave him a Brisbane hello with his elbow....I kid you not!

Best Ref on the nightPeter Green, the only one we've got, but some strange calls and can we just book the guy that kicks from behind, tackles from behind and thumps in the face, and do it early.

Thoughts Not much between these two sides, the Roar started well, very well but missed a number of chances and it came home to hurt them.

The Jets worked hard played some great passing at times and deserved to win...who knows but with a dubious, very dubious second penalty in their favour in extra-time that really was the difference.

Diasppointing that this passionate affair was ruined by the Ref and the Big two at the back for the Roar. Craig Moore let himself and his reputation down again tonight, as he did in his first game for the Roar.

For the neutral it leaves a taste.