Jets Shot Down By Olympic

Both Olympic goals came from defender Michael Cindric in the opening 12 minutes while Donny de Groot got Newcastle's consolation goal in the final five minutes of a game Olympic deserved to win.

Despite star signing Mark Bosnich pulling out at the last minute due to a TV commitment, the NSW Premier League team looked anything but second best against the A-League side which is preparing for next week's crucial ACL knockout round clash with Pohang Steelers in South Korea.

The Jets were missing Ljubo Milicevic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Jobe Wheelhouse but welcomed trialist Andre Gumprecht into the centre of midfield.

Playing a 4-2-3-1, coach Gary Van Egmond brought the former Mariner Gumprecht into a screener's role and dropped Ben Kantarovski into a central defensive position alongside Angelo Costanzo.

Chinese trialist, defender Wang Dong, was due to arrive in Australia tonight (Tues) to commence a stint with the Hunter club.

Panamanian trialist Victor Herrera, who only arrived earlier in the day from South America, started the second half as a wide midfielder in place of Jason Hoffman.

Olympic had former Sydney FC winger Adam Biddle starting as an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1 employed by coach Nick Theo.

On a bitterly cold night, the reshaped Jets defence were caught cold and after six minutes they were behind.

A corner from the left was swung in by Chris Triantis and with Newcastle keeper Ben Kennedy rooted to his goalline defender Cindric headed a powerful downward header into the back of the net.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 in almost identical circumstances. Adam Biddle's corner from the right found Cindric again and his looped header beat Kennedy.

And it could've been three just minutes later had it not been for Jets' Angelo Costanzo getting a desperate toed clearance to a cross and pushing it wide for a corner.

Olympic, buoyed by the surprise lead, took the game to their more illustrious opponents in the opening stages giving the ACL side no time on the ball.

In the shadows of half-time, a mistake by Kantarovski gifted Olympic a one-on-one with Kennedy but the youngster recovered well to extinguish the danger.

The Jets' best move of a woeful first half from them came after a good interchange of passes found striker Sean Rooney who blasted just wide.

The striker had another chance with a long-range shot as the Jets slowly gained the ascendancy going into the break.

Kaz Patafta came on for Gumprecht as the Jets looked to find some attacking impetus. The Jets came more into the game but were unable to fashion any clear chances.

In fact Olympic almost went three up after 65 minutes with two good efforts on goal as they continued to play a pressing game while defending with authority.

Jet striker Sasho Petrovski did get the ball in the net but it was ruled off-side minutes later.

Korean star Song made a return from injury as a 65th minute sub and it was his blocked shot which fell to Donny de Groot to stab home the Jets first of the night on 85 minutes.

As the part-timers began to tire, the Jets pressed in the final few minutes as their better fitness told but Olympic held out for a famous win - their first in seven weeks.

The crowd was estimated at 250.

*In other news... Sydney Olympic will play Sydney FC in a friendly on Sunday July 19 at Belmore in what is planned to be a gala day of entertainment.

*Australia's deaf national team will play Ghana on July 26 in the curtain-raiser to the Olympic v Sydney United clash.