Lleyton Brooks’ late winner lifted Melbourne Victory to a 2-1 win over the Newcastle Jets in the A-League on Saturday.
Summary
Brooks came off the bench to net a 79th-minute goal and give Victory all three points at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Dylan Ryan’s first Victory goal had cancelled out Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ opener.
Victory created an early chance as Ben Folami forced a decent low save from Jets goalkeeper Lewis Italiano in the fifth minute.
Valentino Yuel squandered a good opportunity for the Jets, who started to build into the encounter and opened the scoring in the 18th minute.
Stamatelopoulos was on hand to tuck away the opener from close range following a move down the left.
Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton made an excellent save in the 25th minute, pushing away Luka Prso’s 20-yard strike.
Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio could have brought Victory level before half-time.
Folami did well down the left before cutting back to Lawrie-Lattanzio, who was unable to put away an equaliser.
Victory equalised just three minutes into the second half thanks to Ryan’s first goal for the club.
Jake Brimmer’s cross was flicked on by a Jets defender and Ryan headed in at the back post to make it 1-1.
The Jets thought they had restored their lead in the 52nd minute, but Yuel’s header was ruled out for offside.
Victory midfielder Jacob Butterfield tested Italiano shortly after the hour-mark, having combined nicely with Brooks down the left.
Brooks, who impressed off the bench, would find the match-winner with his first A-League goal.
After receiving a pass from Brooks, Lawrie-Lattanzio cut back for the attacker to side-foot in with 11 minutes remaining.
Player in focus
Key moment
Result
Hyundai A-League 2020/21
Newcastle Jets 1 (Apostolos Stamatelopoulos 18′)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Dylan Ryan 48′, Lleyton Brooks 79′)
Newcastle Jets: Italiano (gk); Millar, Jackson, Topor-Stanley (c), O’Toole; Prso (Abimanyu 84′), Thurgate; Stamatelopoulos, Najjarine, Yuel (Krasniqi 75′); O’Donovan (Hoffman 69′).
Melbourne Victory: Acton (gk); Roux, Ansell, Ryan, Traore (c); Butterfield, Barnett; McManaman (Lauton 84′), Brimmer (Kirdar 72′), Folami (Brooks 60′); Lawrie-Lattanzio.
Yellow cards: Butterfield 63′, Thurgate 66′, Lawrie-Lattanzio 81′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Next up
Victory faces City in the Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park on Saturday, April 17.
