Melbourne Victory has been defeated 4-2 in their Round 16 Hyundai A-League clash against the Newcastle Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
Melbourne Victory has been defeated 4-2 in their Round 16 Hyundai A-League clash against the Newcastle Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
Despite controlling portions of the match, Melbourne couldn’t repel the firepower of the Jets, meaning the Victory’s recent poor run of results continues.
“We scored a terrific goal in the 10th minute but the referee decided not to give it to us on account of the linesman. That would have been a great start for us and was a bit of a turning point.” Victory coach Ernie Merrick said after the match.
“But I think the difference between the teams was Matt Thompson. He got three chances in the box and that third one almost killed us off but when you conceded goals like that and we haven’t done it all year, all I can ask of the boys is to work really hard to salvage some pride and they did that and worked really hard to the end of the game.”
“All teams on their day can win and in front of their home crowd it gives them that extra lift and there is no doubt Newcastle played well against us.”
Victory started the match in attacking fashion, and could have easily gone ahead inside ten minutes. Neat interplay between Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp resulted in Thompson finding the back of the net, only for the striker to be ruled marginally offside.
Just five minutes later Melbourne went close again. Michael Thwaite sent a long ball forward which the Jets defence could only manage to head into the path of Allsopp. Allsopp’s first time volley from outside the box flashed just wide of Ante Covic’s right post much to the relief of the home crowd.
Against the run of play the Jets took the lead on 16 minutes. Marko Jesic’s accurate ball from the left wing was met by Matt Thompson who headed powerfully past Michael Theoklitos to put the Jets one up.
Victory withstood an ensuing bombardment from the Jets, but began to create chances of their own again soon after. Archie Thompson headed over from a Michael Thwaite cross on 28 minutes before Allsopp had his glancing header from an Evan Berger corner palmed away by Covic seven minutes later.
The Jets landed a killer blow seconds before the half time whistle with Matt Thompson scoring his second of the night. Jesic’s cross deflected off Thwaite, finding Thompson, whose angled drive beat Theoklitos from eight yards.
Coach Ernie Merrick brought on Matthew Kemp for Berger at halftime but Victory went three down just four minutes after the break with Thompson completing his hat-trick by slotting home on the angle after being played in by Kantarovski.
Victory then went four down on 60 minutes when Jin-Hyung Song scored his first goal for the Jets following a through-ball from Joel Griffiths.
Allsopp gave Victory a glimmer of hope on 66 minutes with his eighth goal of the season, his left foot shot following a long ball forward making the score 4-1.
Sensing there was still time, Merrick brought on Brazilian striker Ney Fabiano for Costa Rican midfielder Carlos Hernandez.
After missing a glorious chance to score following a cross from Matthew Kemp on 83 minutes, Fabiano did put his name on the score sheet four minutes later, heading home a Kevin Muscat free-kick to make the score 4-2.
Time became Melbourne’s worst enemy as its comeback was halted by referee Craig Zetters whistle.
Victory drop to third place on goal difference behind Queensland Roar with their next match at home against Sydney FC.
“We have had a horrendous run of six away games and only two at home and I am glad that is behind us,” Merrick added.
“I am really looking forward to playing more games back at Telstra Dome.”
NewcastleJets squad:1. Ante COVIC (gk), 2. Adam GRIFFITHS, 3. Jade NORTH (c), 8. Matt THOMPSON, 9. Joel GRIFFITHS, 10. Jin-Hyung SONG (14. Sean ROONEY 88-), 11. Tarek ELRICH, 13. Adam D-APUZZO, 16. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 24. Marko JESIC, 26. Mark MILLIGAN
Unused substitutes:7. Kaz PATAFTA, 14. Shaun ONTONG, 30. Justin PASFIELD
Yellow cards:Nil
Red cards:Nil
MelbourneVictory squad:1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Kevin MUSCAT, 3. Michael THWAITE, 9. Daniel ALLSOPP, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 14. Billy CELESKI, 16. Carlos HERNANDEZ (11. Ney FABIANO 67-), 17. Jose Luis LOPEZ, 19. Evan BERGER (7. Matthew KEMP 45-), 22. Nick WARD
Unused substitutes:15. Tomislav PONDELJAK, 20. Mitchell LANGERAK (gk)
Yellow cards: 14th Celeski, 62nd Ward
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets 4
(Thompson 16-, 45+1-, 49-, Song 60-)
Melbourne Victory 1
(Allsopp 66-, Fabiano 87-)
Crowd:6,268
