The Newcastle Jets have been defeated 3-0 by Wellington Phoenix in windy conditions during this evening’s Hyundai A-League round 10 catch-up match at Westpac Stadium.
The Newcastle Jets have been defeated 3-0 by Wellington Phoenix in windy conditions during this evening-s Hyundai A-League round 10 catch-up match at Westpac Stadium.
A goal midway through the first half by former Jets midfielder Tim Brown, followed by second half strikes by Englishmen Chris Greenacre and Paul Ifill, was enough for Wellington to extend their unbeaten streak at home to 12 matches.
It would be the Phoenix that would adjust to the wild conditions best, with Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy being called into action on a number of occasions in the opening stanza, and indeed throughout the game. The gloveman-s first involvement coming in the 15th minute when a free-kick by Daniel was headed by young striker Costa Barbarouses straight into Kennedy-s arms.
On 27 minutes, Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia hit a powerful low drive from 25-yards out, but Kennedy was equal to the task, tipping the strike wide of the target in superb fashion.
However, Wellington would take the lead from the resulting corner when Barbarouses hit a stinging shot on the turn from inside the penalty area, and after Kennedy parried, Brown pounced on the scraps to give the home side the advantage.
In the 38th minute, Barbarouses combined with the impressive Ifill down the right flank, and the young Kiwi looked to finish the move with a right-footed volley from 10-yards out, only to see Kennedy pull off a crucial reflex save.
The Jets were still a danger, and lively midfielder Kaz Patafta had two opportunities just before the main break, both from cutbacks by English striker Michael Bridges. Frustratingly for the prodigious talent, a scrambling Phoenix defence would ultimately deny Patafta an equaliser.
Indeed, the Jets would start the second half brightly when Bridges looked to catch young goalkeeper Reece Crowther off his line with an audacious chip from distance, but the young shotstopper was up to the challenge.
Moments later and Greenacre would double Wellington-s lead when he finished a wonderful piece of football by the Phoenix. Ifill broke down the left and knocked in a cross for Barbarouses who, in turn, flicked the ball back into the path of Greenacre to convert unmarked from 10-yards.
The Jets pressed hard for a goal, and in-form striker Labinot Haliti had chances midway through the second period, but couldn-t find a way past Crowther.
Drama unfolded 7 minutes from full-time when Brown was ruled by referee Ben Williams to have been brought down inside the area. However, Kennedy would keep Newcastle in the contest from the subsequent penalty, making an outstretched save to his right from Greenacre-s spot kick.
Ifill always looked dangerous though, and had two one-on-ones with Kennedy in the final moments of the game. The young custodian did well to save the first attempt, but couldn-t hold the former Crystal Palace striker out in injury time as the Phoenix claimed a valuable three Hyundai A-League points.
The Jets will return to Newcastle tomorrow to prepare for this Sunday-s important Hyundai A-League round 14 clash at home to Robbie Fowler-s North Queensland Fury. Tickets for this encounter at EnergyAustralia Stadium are available from www.proticket.com.auor by calling (02) 4915 2345.
Match details:
Newcastle Jets: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Angelo COSTANZO (16. Jason HOFFMAN 61-), 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC, 7. Jin-Hyung SONG, 8. Matt THOMPSON (c), 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 14. Michael BRIDGES (9. Sasho PETROVSKI 74-), 22. Kaz PATAFTA (26. Ali ABBAS 55-), 25. Labinot HALITI
Unused substitutes: 20. Neil YOUNG (gk)
Yellow cards: Angelo Costanzo 20-, Jobe Wheelhouse 36-
Red cards: Nil
Wellington Phoenix: 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 6. Tim BROWN, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE (13. Troy HEARFIELD 87-), 11. DANIEL (7. Leo BERTOS 77-), 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Costa BARBAROUSES (14. Adrian CACERES 88-)
Unused substitutes: 30. Jonathon GOULD (gk)
Yellow cards: Vince Lia 51-
Red cards: Nil
Wellington Phoenix: 3 (Brown 27-, Greenacre 55-, Ifill 90+1-)
Newcastle Jets: 0
Referee: Ben WILLIAMS
Crowd: 4,100
