Saturday evening’s conflict between the Macarthur Bulls and Newcastle Jets started at 6pm however completed at 9.59pm as wild climate pressured the longest recreation in A-League historical past.
Scorching temperatures in Campbelltown noticed the match delayed from 5pm to 6pm, however a fast change in situations as a storm entrance hit quickly despatched the gamers operating to the sheds.
Newcastle scored within the eighth minute by means of fleet-footed attacker Trent Buhagiar, earlier than intense winds – gusting as much as 65km/h within the space – even blew an promoting hoarding onto the pitch close to a participant.
In the 14th minute, the gamers have been pressured from the sector because of lightning for an anticipated half-hour delay. But the harmful storm pressured play to be delayed over an hour and a half.
Play finally resumed at 7.50pm – however the groups have been on the pitch for simply 12 minutes earlier than the lightning returned. The subsequent delay was 32 minutes. The match was lastly concluded at 9.59pm, only one minute wanting 4 hours.
Carl Jenkinson of the Jets speaks to the referee in the course of the spherical 17 A-League Men’s match between Macarthur FC and Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium on February 18, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Newcastle defender Carl Jenkinson, a former Premier League veteran, had by no means skilled the likes of Saturday’s record-breaking evening.
“It’s loopy. Like I mentioned, I’ve by no means been concerned in one thing like that,” Jenkinson mentioned on Paramount+ after the sport.
“That truly appeared a very long time in the past now (the delays). I virtually forgot that as a result of the final thirty minutes was a bit lengthy.
“It’s unusual however credit score to the lads as a result of we caught to what we have been all the time doing. I feel we began rather well. I feel within the second ten minutes once we got here again out, we weren’t pretty much as good as what we may be.
“And then after that little break most likely did us the world of fine as a result of I felt like we obtained going once more. A really unusual evening however simply nice to come back right here and get the three factors.”
It was Newcastle’s sixth recreation with out defeat, whereas Macarthur did not benefit from their dominance on the stats sheet.
Lightning strikes because the match is delayed in the course of the spherical 17 A-League Men’s match between Macarthur FC and Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium on February 18, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
