Melbourne Victory’s six-match unbeaten run has come to an end after a 3-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday night.
Melbourne Victory’s six-match unbeaten run has come to an end after a 3-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday night.
A screamer from Carlos Hernandez put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes, but a brace from Ryan Griffiths and Labinot Haliti’s 47th-minute header were enough to secure victory for the Jets.
Victory pushed for an equaliser and star Harry Kewell, who produced arguably his best performance for the club, twice went close to finding one.
Mehmet Durakovic’s men made a lively start away from home, pushing the Jets deep into their own half in the opening minutes.
Midfielder Billy Celeski forced Jets defender Tiago Calvano into a rushed clearance after flashing a pass across the face of goal, minutes after Jeremy Brockie had gone close for the hosts.
Victory got a deserved opener after 20 minutes thanks to a stunning strike from Hernandez.
New Zealander Marco Rojas played a pass into Kewell, who fed the Costa Rican in a dangerous area and within distance.
Hernandez struck a delightful curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards for his fifth goal of the season, leaving goalkeeper Matthew Nash helpless.
The hosts piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser and Griffiths earned a penalty after being fouled by Rojas.
He brushed himself off and sent Ante Covic the wrong way to level on 27 minutes, but Victory almost restored their advantage soon after.
Nash failed to collect a Hernandez corner, but the Jets defence were on hand to scramble away the danger.
Victory fell behind two minutes into the second half when striker Haliti headed in his first goal of the campaign.
Brockie whipped in a cross from the right to the back post, where Haliti rose highest to nod in and give the Jets the lead.
Kewell was unlucky not to put Victory back on level terms just before the hour mark when Tarek Elrich blocked his header at the back post after Leigh Broxham’s well-weighted cross.
The marquee man then put a powerful drive agonisingly wide of Nash’s post.
Thompson was unfortunate not to win a penalty with just under a quarter of an hour to play when he was brought down by Nikolai Topor-Stanley after going through on goal, but referee Jarred Gillett ruled the defender won the ball.
As Victory continued to push, the Jets sealed the points thanks to Griffiths’ second of the game.
Substitute Isaka Cernak was dispossessed by Ruben Zadkovich in his own half and the midfielder’s shot was well saved by Covic.
But Griffiths pounced on the rebound to tap into an empty net and ensure the Jets end their three-game winless run.
Newcastle Jets 3 (Griffiths 27pen, 88, Haliti 47)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Hernandez 20)
