The Newcastle Jets have recorded an impressive 3-2 win over the Wellington Phoenix to leapfrog the New Zealand side on the Liberty A-League ladder on Sunday afternoon at No.2 Sportsground.
The visitors took the lead inside the first five minutes when Mariana Speckmaier’s sharp turn inside the box fooled the Jets defence as she cooly tucked her shot past Isabel Nino.
The early goal didn’t deter Ryan Campbell’s side and the almost found an equaliser in the 15th minute when MelindaJ Barbieri’s free-kick had to be palmed away by Wellington goalkeeper Brianna Edwards.
The home side eventually found a goal when centre-back Zoe Karipidis’ cross-come shot evaded everyone and found its way to the back of the net in the 32nd minute.
Five minutes later the Jets almost took the lead when a fine cross from Lauren Allan found Sarina Bolden in the box. The striker was denied by a fantastic save from Edwards to keep the score at 1-1 heading into the interval.
The Jets started the second half with a bang when the ball found it’s way to Libby Copus-Brown on the edge of the box as the midfielder riffled her shot past a helpless Edwards to make it 2-1.
Bolden almost extended the lead in the 55th minute when her audacious effort from outside the box hit the crossbar.
The Phoenix equalised no less then a minute later when Isabel Cox rounded Nino to make it 2-2.
The home side weren’t phased by the set-back and made it 3-2 in the 65th minute when Bolden made a sharp turn inside the box to curl her shot into the back of the net.
The Jets defence held firm to close out the match and see them leapfrog the Phoenix into 8th place on the ladder, one point outside the top six.
Ryan Campbell’s side now face a short turnaround to face the Western Sydney Wanderers at Carrington Park in Bathurst on Friday night.
