A Nathan Burns brace has helped the Newcastle Jets move into third in the A-League after a 2-1 win over the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday.
A Nathan Burns brace has helped the Newcastle Jets move into third in the A-League after a 2-1 win over the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The attacker, on loan from Incheon United, struck once in each half to see the Jets to the surprise win in the 1,000th game in the league’s history.
Victory had levelled through James Troisi early in the second half, but they again lacked a cutting edge.
While Newcastle rise to third after bouncing back from their loss to Sydney, the Victory slip to sixth.
The hosts thought they had a penalty inside the first minute when an advancing Mark Birighitti collided with Mark Milligan after Mitch Nichols’ clever chipped pass, but referee Alan Milliner waved away the appeals.
Pablo Contreras headed a Troisi corner over the bar before the Jets had injury worries as Kew Jaliens accidentally kneed a sliding Scott Neville, who would later come off with a knee injury, in the head.
Kevin Muscat’s side continued to threaten and had another chance through Rashid Mahazi on 16 minutes, but the midfielder elected to pass when he should have shot.
The visitors had a glorious chance moments later as Burns’ pass from the left found Adam Taggart, but Nathan Coe was out quickly to smother at the striker’s feet.
Connor Pain and Kosta Barbarouses wasted good chances as the half went on before Adama Traore had a powerful 35-yard drive palmed away by a diving Birighitti.
The Jets carved out half opportunities of their own – mainly after diagonal runs from Taggart – but struggled to threaten Coe’s goal.
That was until the 44th minute, when Burns scored his first A-League goal since netting for Adelaide in October 2007.
A neat move down the left, where the Jets had plenty of success, led to Adrian Leijer being dragged out of position and Taggart’s first-time pass released Burns, who beat Coe at his near post.
The hosts only needed to wait five minutes into the second half to get back on level terms thanks to Troisi.
Short passes on the edge of the area led to Pain freeing Troisi down the right and the on-loan attacker fired a low shot past Birighitti for his sixth goal of the season.
But the Jets were back ahead in the 66th minute and again thanks to Burns.
Milligan appeared to have produced a goal-saving tackle from James Brown’s cross, but Burns was at the back post to tuck a finish into the bottom corner.
Nichols headed a Jacob Pepper header off the line soon after before he almost equalised, but Birighitti was again equal to the task.
Troisi missed two chances and Brown another at the other end but the Jets always looked like they would hold on.
Melbourne Victory 1 (James Troisi 50)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Nathan Burns 44, 66)
Crowd: 18,113 @ AAMI Park
