The Newcastle Jets have moved into the A-League’s top six following a 5-0 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets have moved into the Hyundai A-League’s top six following a 5-0 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
The Jets started in a positive fashion, with David Carney picking the ball up near the halfway line inside the first minute, before going on a marauding run that ended with him unleashing a left-footed strike from the edge of the area.
The goal-bound effort was blocked by Andrew Durante with the Jets- appeals for a handball inside the box turned down by referee Strebre Delovski.
Carney was involved again in the 13th minute, delivering a cross to the back post that found its way to Joel Griffiths.
Griffiths brought the ball down with his chest before trying an audacious left-footed volley on the turn that went over the crossbar.
Four minutes later, Emile Heskey-s flicked-on header fell into the path of Adam Taggart, but the young Jets striker was shouldered off the ball by Durante before he could get a shot away.
Taggart-s claims that Durante had committed a foul were again dismissed by Delovski.
The Phoenix-s first clear-cut opportunity came in the 19th minute, with Tyler Boyd playing a neat one-two with Kenny Cunningham that put the former in behind the Jets- defence.
However, Ben Kennedy was quickly off his line to smother Boyd-s shot from a tight angle.
Six minutes later, the Jets had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead, with Josh Mitchell swinging in a sublime cross towards Taggart, but the Young Socceroos striker-s goal-bound header was athletically tipped over the bar by Glenn Moss.
The Phoenix responded to the close shave well, fashioning their best chance of the half when Roy Krishna laid the ball off the Stein Huysegems at the top of the box, only for the Belgium to blast his shot over the crossbar with the goal gaping.
After fashioning the majority of goal-scoring opportunities in the opening half, the Jets eventually took the lead in the 35th minute from a set-piece.
Ruben Zadkovich-s corner to the near post was flicked-on by the head of Mitchell towards Heskey at the back post, who buried a first-time volley with his right boot into the roof of the net.
The Jets wasted no time picking up where they left off after the interval with Griffiths beating his man on the right-wing before playing a neat through ball to Heskey.
The former England international attempted to slide his first-time shot past Moss, but the Phoenix shot-stopper was up to the task, making a sharp reflex save to deflect the ball around the post.
At the ensuing corner, Carney delivered a pin-point out-swinger that found Griffiths, who drove a low, first-time volley with his right boot that rocketed past Moss into the back of the net.
The Jets put the result beyond in the 57th minute, with Caravella swinging in a delightful cross from the right flank towards Taggart.
The 20-year-old rose well and met the cross with a powerful header that gave Moss no chance and took Taggart-s tally for the season to a league-leading 12 goals.
The Phoenix had an opportunity to get a goal back in the 65th minute after Kennedy was penalised for handling a back pass from Zadkovich.
However, the Jets- defensive wall stood strong to repel Jeremy Brockie-s indirect free-kick and keep their goal intact.
Four minutes later, Taggart had a chance to score his second of the match, with his pace allowing him to chase down Zadkovich-s ball over the top.
With only Moss to beat, Taggart was unable to get the desired angle on his side-footed effort and the Kiwi shot-stopper was able to make a sharp reflex save.
Taggart eventually did complete his brace in the 77th minute of the contest after the Phoenix failed to clear their lines following a low cross from Michael Bridges.
Taggart picked up the loose ball and hit a right-footed shot on the turn that deflected off the back of a Wellington defender and into the back of the net to make it 4-0 to the Jets.
Bridges put the icing on the cake in stoppage time, hitting a stunning right-footed volley from a Craig Goodwin cross that looped over Moss and capped a 5-0 victory for the Jets in impressive style.
Newcastle Jets 5 (Heskey 35-, Griffths 46-, Taggart 57-, 77-, Bridges 90-)
Wellington Phoenix 0
