Melbourne Victory were forced to share the points at AAMI Park owing to a late Newcastle Jets equaliser on Friday night.
Arthur Diles’ team overcame an early deficit inflicted by Eli Adams to push the Premiers Plate chasers at AAMI Park, with Charles Nduka’s goals in minutes 31 and 34 completing a tremendous turnaround that put Victory in pole position for a win.
The Japanese striker, signed in January, now has five goals since arriving, thanks to a couple of poacher’s finishes against the Jets.
But Newcastle’s persistence was rewarded with a penalty converted by Eli Adams in the 89th minute, ensuring a draw was the final result on the night, and the Boys in Blue will have to wait for the Finals berth to be confirmed.
Team News
Sebastian Esposito returned from concussion protocol and was straight back into the starting XI, with the hosts deploying a back five. This meant Matthew Grimaldi switched to the bench, which included the returning Santos, following personal leave, and Brendan Hamill, who made his first matchday squad since recovering from his ACL injury suffered 11 months ago. Adama Traoré, Lachlan Jackson and Oliver Dragicevic all dropped out of the squad from Auckland.
Match Action
On an evening of high stakes and dropping temperatures, the contest’s opening exchanges yo-yoed from end to end. Lachlan Rose was foiled from the angle by Jack Warshawsky before Delianov batted away Keegan Jelacic’s inswinging corner and shovelled a lively Jordi Valadon effort behind.
But it was the visitors who would draw first blood in an instalment of the ex-factor, as Eli Adams, former Victory player, three minutes after earning himself a caution, fired in from the edge of the penalty box.
Despite the goal, the pendulum of action continued to swing. Nishan Velupillay had a whack and grazed the crossbar, Rose netted from close range, but had strayed offside to finish, and Genreau stung the goalkeeper’s palms.
Instead of getting sucked into the frenzy, Victory opted for finesse to turn the game on its head, and it was the wing-backs who supplied it. First Joshua Rawlins, aided by Valadon’s delicate pick out, precisely squared for Nduka to convert from close range as the half-hour mark passed.
And just three minutes later, a marauding Franco Lino was able to keep his composure, seeing his sweeping centre bludgeoned in by the arriving Nduka.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 1 – 2 Newcastle Jets
Leading the ladder and not accustomed to losing this term, Newcastle started the second 45 with renewed purpose, and Clayton Taylor flashed a shot wide after breaking into the penalty box.
In response, searching for the knockout blow, Victory were almost given a helping hand. Nishan Velupillay centred with the outside of his boot, and Mark Natta was fortunate to watch his clearance narrowly clear the post.
It was next the skipper Kostandinos Grozos intervening at the last, clearing Valdon’s left-footed scutller from under his own crossbar. Substitute Grimaldi fired over and then nearly turned provider, picking out Nduka, who could not get around a near-post cross enough to complete a hat-trick.
Not top of the table without merit, Newcastle started to probe deeper, and it took some particuarly sharp reactions from Warshawsky to deny Ben Gibson.
However, their endeavour bore fruit late on, earning a penalty with time ticking down as Esposito was penalised. Adams stood up to the mark and made no mistakes with his spot kick, grasping a crucial point for his side’s Premiership hopes.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 2 (NDUKA 31′, 34′)
Newcastle Jets 2 (ADAMS 18′, 89′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 8. Jordi VALADON (27. Louis D’ARRIGO 81′), 10. Denis GENREAU, 18. Franco LINO, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY (11. SANTOS 81′), 23. Keegan JELACIC (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 65′), 44. Charles NDUKA.
Substitutes not used: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 5. Brendan HAMILL, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS.
Booking: MIRANDA 25′, RAWLINS 90+1′.
Newcastle Jets starting XI: 1. James DELIANOV (GK), 23. Daniel WILMERING, 33. Mark NATTA, 17. Kostandinos GROZOS (C), 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 14. Max BURGESS, 8. Lachlan BAYLISS, 10. Zach CLOUGH (43. Xavier BERTONCELLO 57′), 7. Eli ADAMS, 9. Lachlan ROSE (11. Benjamin GIBSON 69′), 13. Clayton TAYLOR (24. Alexandro NUNES 81′).
Substitutes not used: 20. Alex NASSIEP (GK), 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 41. Lucas SCICLUNA 42. Maxwell COOPER.
Booking: ADAMS 15′, BURGESS 44′.
