Newcastle Jets prevailed against Wellington Phoenix at Hunter Stadium on Sunday, convincingly defeating the New Zealand side 3-1.
Goals to Milos Trifunovic, Ryan Kitto and David Carney saw the home side go ahead 3-0 before Phoenix substitute Matthew Ridenton scored a late consolation goal.
The Jets took an early lead in the sixth minute from the penalty spot, as Milos Trifunovic shot past a diving Glen Moss.
Ben Kantarovski whipped in an exquisite cross which Nigel Boogaard latched onto, heading into the back of the net, however referee Jarred Gillett had already blown for a foul in the build up play to the skippers’ amazement.
Trifunovic then stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the right side of the goal past Moss who dove the right way.
In the twenty-sixth minute the Jets doubled their lead as Ryan Kitto slotted home into virtually an empty net as Moss was grounded after saving a David Carney strike.
In the thirty-eighth minute Trifunovic almost had a double, however his header on the back of a Carney free kick flew just over the crossbar.
Three minutes before half time the home side almost went three ahead, however ex Jet Andrew Durante came to the Phoenix’s rescue.
Kitto delivered a pinpoint cross which Enver Alivodic headed towards goal, beating keeper Moss, however the ‘Nix captain retreated and cleared the effort off the goal line.
When the half time whistle sounded the 7,595 strong Newcastle crowd were vocal in their appraisal of the first half performance, hoping that their side could hold on in the second half and record their first win since round 4.
Full time. 3-1. Three points. Three cheers for Newcastle! ???
Posted by Newcastle Jets on Saturday, 16 January 2016
In the fifty-eighth minute the Jets were reduced to ten men as Kantarovski picked up his second yellow card of the contest.
Four minutes later Jets coach Scott Miller made a tactical move, introducing Nick Cowburn at the expense of Trifunovic in order to sure up his midfield. As a result of the move, Carney shifted to striker.
Miller’s move paid quick dividends, as just a minute later Carney got in behind the Phoenix defence, ran onto an Alivodic through ball, and slotted a one-on-one past Moss into the bottom left hand corner to make the score 3-0.
Mark Birighitti stood up once again throughout the match, and in the eightieth minute charged out to deny Kwabena Appiah who found himself with the ball, unmarked in the eighteen-yard box, denying what looked like would be a certain goal.
A minute later, however, he was picking the ball up out of the net after substitute Matthew Ridenton scored to make the score 3-1.
With two minutes to go the Phoenix almost scored a second, but Birighitti collected a mishit Michael McGlinchey strike from close range.
Wellington thought that they had a second in injury time as Durante bundled the ball into the goal after a scramble in the box, however he was judged to have been offside in the build up.
To their delight the home crowd welcomed back Leonardo, as he came on for several minutes off the bench.
The Brazilian did not manage to get a touch however as the full time whistle sounded with the Jets ahead 3-1.
The win ensured the Jets move even with the Phoenix on sixteen competition points.
In Round 16 the Jets will return to Hunter Stadium where they take on Perth Glory on Sunday 24 January at 5pm.
Newcastle Jets 3 (Trifunovic 7’ (pen), Kitto 26’, Carney 66’)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Ridenton 81’)
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Attendance: 7,595
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Newcastle Jets: 1. Mark Birighitti, 2. Daniel Mullen, 3. Jason Hoffman, 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 5. Ben Kantarovski, 7. Enver Alivodic, 8. Mateo Poljak, 9. Milos Trifunovic (24. Nicholas Cowburn 66’), 22. Lachlan Jackson, 23. David Carney (10. Leonardo 90+4’), 28. Ryan Kitto (14. Mitch Cooper 82’)
Substitutes not used: 6. Cameron Watson, 20. Ben Kennedy
Yellow cards: Kantarovski x2, Poljak
Red cards: Kantarovski
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Glen Moss (Gk), 3. Justin Gulley (19. Thomas Doyle 46’), 4. Roly Bonevacia, 5. Troy Danaskos (23. Matthew Ridenton 76’), 6. Dylan Fox, 8. Alex Rodriguez (11. Kwabena Appiah 62’), 10. Michael McGlinchey, 12. Blake Powell, 13. Albert Riera, 17. Vince Lia, 22. Andrew Durante (C)
Substitutes not used: 20. Lewis Italiano (Gk), 28. Joel Stevens
Yellow cards: Fox
Red cards: Nil
