Melbourne Victory 1-3 Newcastle Jets: Jets end Melbourne winless drought

Newcastle Jets celebrate one of their goals
Photo: FFA

Newcastle Jets defeated Melbourne Victory 3-1 to end their winless Melbourne drought at AAMI Park on Saturday night as Carlos Hernandez saw red.

Jets took the lead through Ryan Griffiths before Harry Kewell equalised and Jacob Pepper scored a brace in a very entertaining first-half. It happened to be Newcastle’s first win in Melbourne over Victory in over four years and Victory’s first loss at home in 15 games.

Jim Magilton didn’t make any changes to his Melbourne Victory side from the 1-1 draw with Gold Coast United whereas Gary van Egmond made one change to his Newcastle Jets side with Skipper Jobe Wheelhouse coming in for Jeremy Brockie who played 90 minutes midweek for New Zealand.

At a very wet AAMI Park Kewell registered the first chance when he shot from outside the box and the ball squeezed through ‘keeper Ben Kennedy but just trickled wide.

Victory were on the attack seconds later with Hernandez and as Tiago missed the clearance Marco Rojas at the far post fired over.

On 20 minutes Newcastle opened the scoring with their opening chance. Ruben Zadkovich put in a great ball which Tarek Elrich nodded down for Griffiths who finished on the turn.

Three minutes later Ubay Luzardo was pushed by the goalscorer Griffiths inside the box. Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot and Kewell stepped up and equalised however Kennedy did get a touch.

But Victory couldn’t hold onto the lead and on 29 minutes the onrushing Pepper scored his first A-League goal after Wheelhouse’s low cross from the right.

Archie Thompson who was looking for his 100^th A-League goal but was denied a penalty after the ball hit Ben Kantarovski’s hand and chest.

Jets were looking for a third and got what they deserved when Zadkovich on the right continued to cause problems and sent another low cross for Pepper who finished with his left foot to score his second and second A-League goal.

Soon after the third Jets goal Matthew Kemp, who was probably was at fault for two of the goals, was dragged off for Leigh Broxham and stormed down the tunnel.

Thompson should have had that 100^th goal but hit his effort against the woodwork.

On the edge of the break Victory were given a second penalty when Zadkovich, who was already booked, fouled Kewell inside the box. But Kewell fired his penalty well over.

Early into the second-half Elrich, in his new left-wing position, cut in from the left but fired straight into the hands of Ante Covic.

On 58 minutes Hernandez had a huge chance to grab one goal back but poked his effort right into the hands of Kennedy while one-on-one.

Second-half substitute Jean-Carlos Solorzano’s header was next denied by Ben Kennedy after Hernandez’s great ball.

Solorzano from Leigh Broxham’s corner headed over again before Kennedy saved Hernandez’s effort.

But on 82 minutes Victory had a player sent off again for the eighth time this season with Hernandez given his second yellow card for a challenge on Sung-Hwan Byun.

Newcastle held on to their half-time lead and took all three points home. Despite the victory Newcastle remain sixth with Melbourne Heart ahead on goal difference.

Match Stats:

Melbourne Victory

2. Matthew Foschini, 4. Petar Franjic, 5. Mark Milligan, 7. Matthew Kemp (6. Leigh Broxham 42’), 10. Archie Thompson (9. Jean-Carlos Solorzano 71’), 11. Marco Rojas (19. Isaka Cernak 46’), 16. Carlos Hernandez, 17. Jimmy Jeggo, 21. Ante Covic (GK), 22. Harry Kewell (C), 28. Ubay Luzardo

Substitutes Not Used

1. Tando Velaphi (GK)

Coach

Jim Magilton

Goals

Kewell (pen) 24’

Yellow Cards

Hernandez 66’, Hernandez 82’

Red Cards

Hernandez 82’

Newcastle Jets

1. Ben Kennedy (GK), 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Tiago Calvano, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 10. Ruben Zadkovich, 11. Tarek Elrich (9. Michael Bridges 80’), 12. Jobe Wheelhouse (C) (22. Ali Abbas 63’), 13. Sung-Hwan Byun, 23. Ryan Griffiths, 24. Francis Jeffers (8. Jeremy Brockie 71’), 25. Jacob Pepper

Substitutes Not Used

19. Matthew Nash (GK)

Coach

Gary van Egmond

Goals

Griffiths 20’, Pepper 29’, 39’

Yellow Cards

Zadkovich 18’, Kennedy 88’

MOTM: Jacob Pepper

12, 457@AAMI Park

 Piece also here