Melbourne Victory have returned to winning ways in style, thrashing the Newcastle Jets 5-0 at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Melbourne Victory have returned to winning ways in style, thrashing the Newcastle Jets 5-0 at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Marco Rojas and Mark Milligan both netted braces while Adrian Leijer also got on the scoresheet in the huge win as Victory ended a run of three straight losses.
Rojas was at his lively best in the win, which lifted Victory back into third in the Hyundai A-League. It was also their equal biggest win over the Jets.
Newcastle finished the clash with 10 men after defender Taylor Regan was sent off in the 56th minute.
Victory continually threatened to get behind the Jets defence early on before the deadlock was broken on eight minutes.
Archie Thompson picked up a loose ball just inside his own half before sliding a pass through to Rojas, who timed his run to perfection.
The Kiwi placed his finish under the advancing Mark Birighitti for his 13th goal of the season.
Victory only had to wait another seven minutes for a second, with Rojas again involved.
The winger curled in a corner that was met by the head of Leijer, who had drifted in ahead of Regan to give Victory a 2-0 lead.
Ange Postecoglou’s men were dominant and thought they had a deserved third – again from a corner – in the 17th minute.
Daniel Mullen had powered a header past Birighitti, but the goal was ruled out by referee Jarred Gillett after Milligan’s trailing arm caught Ruben Zadkovich.
Newcastle were punished for a couple of missed opportunities as Milligan made it 3-0 on the half-hour.
Connor Pain, who had switched to the right flank just minutes earlier, played a smart short pass to Thompson.
Thompson, playing centrally, skipped into the area before being brought down by Regan.
Milligan stepped up, striking the spot-kick down the middle as Birighitti dived to his left.
Victory started the second half much the same as they did the first and Leigh Broxham forced Birighitti into a save just seconds after the interval.
The chances continued to come before Victory got their fourth in the 57th minute.
Milligan again converted from the penalty spot after Regan dragged down Mullen from a set-piece.
The centre-back was shown his second yellow card and Victory continued to dominate after his sending off.
Rojas completed his brace in the 66th minute with a piece of individual brilliance in the area.
After receiving a pass from Scott Galloway, Rojas used quick feet to beat a defender and round Birighitti before placing into an empty net.
The tempo of the clash slowed in the final quarter of an hour and Victory had further chances but settled for a deserved 5-0 win.
Melbourne Victory 5 (Rojas 8, 66, Leijer 15, Milligan 30p, 57p)
Newcastle Jets 0
Crowd: 17,778 @AAMI Park
