The Jets got the revenge they were looking for after the 5-0 thumping they received by Victory in their last meeting when 19 year old Marko Jesic fired home a late 85th minute winner at the EAS.

The Jets saw the return of Joel (who commenced on the bench) and Adam Griffiths, Ben Kantarovski and James Holland.

It was the Jets who commenced the quicker Hakansson finds Zura who turns his defender beautifully his cross is met by Hakansson his shot is parried away by Theoklitos. On 6 minutes Matt Thomson beats his defender at the edge of the area and his goal bound shot is blocked by Muscat.

Victory mount their first attack on 9 minutes with some neat passing around the edge of the Jets penalty area the move ends with a 25 meter low drive by Celeski that requires a full length diving save by Covic. Moments later Allsop is suddenly through on goal with only Covic to beat but he has too much power in his lob and the ball sails over the cross bar and into the stands.

The Jets then lift a gear, Kantarovski sets up Holland his shot is blocked , the ball falls to Jesic who air swings a shot then has a shot that is going in but Theoklitos gets a touch and the ball is pushed around the upright. Zura is having his best game of the season so far his cross finds Holland who tees up Jesic and he hits a low drive wide. Then it’s a Elrich cross that finds Jesic on the far post he doesn’t quite it hold of it and its over the cross bar.

The crowd are enthralled by the Jets pressure as they await the expected first goal, its all high tmpo and pleasing on the eyes.

On 31 minutes Kantarovski and Zura exchange passes down the left flank, a Zura back heel sends the 16 year old away, his cross finds Hakansson his goal bound shot is handled by Vargas and the referee Breeze gives a penalty. Zura who is yet to score for the Jets steps up to take the kick, the crowd hold their breath as he connects, but the ball hits the upright and bounces out much to the crowd’s disbelief, Zura is playing his heart out and it is he that is most deserving of a goal so far.

The Jets continue to press, Hakansson’s cross is handled by Kemp but Breeze doesn’t give the penalty and instead gives the disbelieving Dane a yellow card much to the crowds amazement.

The first half ends with Zura beautifully beating two defenders and his zipping cross is met by Kantarovski did his header is wide.

The second half has Victory on top, Hernandez tries one from 22 meters and Covic touches it over the cross bar.

But it all goes horribly wrong for Melbourne and in particularly Archie Thompson on 57 minutes, the Socceroo was given his first A-League red card when he swore at Breeze. Television replays showed Thomson called Breeze a ‘F—— —-’ after he was called for a foul on Wheelhouse. That’s 4 send offs in eight games for Melbourne.

It takes Van Egmond a further ten minutes to take advantage of the situation when finally on 67 minutes Song and D’Apuzzo come on and on 76 minutes Joel Griffiths finally comes on and for the final 15 minutes its all the Jets as they dominate 10 man Victory. On 81 minutes Song plays a neat one two at the edge of the penalty area ad is in n goal but his shot is saved by Theoklitos.

The goal finally arrives on 85 minutes Song crosses, its deflected to Jesic and the 19 year old volleys home from close range its 1-0 to the Jets and the home fans are in raptures.

The Newcastle Jets and the Wellington Phoenix have shared the points at Energy Stadium Australia in a hard fought sixth vs seventh placed match.

Wellington came into the match knowing they have never had back to back wins, they line up with four former Jets players in their starting line up -Durrante, Brown, Coveny and Johnson.

The Jets knew they have never won a game without Joel Griffiths, they came into the game without Holland, Hoffman and the Griffith brothers.

It starts brightly for the home team D’Apuzzo is clear on goal in the first minute but Paston saves his low shot.

It takes 17 minutes for Wellington to create their first chance, Tim Brown blasts a curling shot at goal from outside the area and Covic makes a diving save. The visitor’s nearly take the lead again when Smeltz robs Wheelhouse of the ball, he dribbles toward goal and his shot hits the upright and bounces out.

The Jets respond, Hakansson finds Zura running at full speed he finds Song who ties up Thomson but a alert Dodd covers with a last ditch tackle. The Jets are finding their rhythm they put 30 passes together but the move ends with a stray pass.

The fans are trying to get into the game but it’s a bit untidy, just before half time Zura finds a running Thomson on the wing his cross is hit first time by Hakansson on the volley and its just over the cross bar and the fans have something to applaud.

The Jets start the second like they did the first creating a opportunity, with Song firing from outside the area straight at Paston.

On 52 minutes Coveny goes on a 20 meter dribble, he is in the penalty area when fouled by Piorkowski, a clumsy challenge that gives away a penalty and up steps Smeltz to put away the penalty, there is dead silence as he scores 1-0 Wellington.

The Jets step up the pace, A Song free kick finds Elrich who passes to Zura he attempts an over head but is just wide. On 59 minutes Zura heads down a long through ball to the on coming Elrich his 25 meter shot from outside the area is over Paston and under the cross bar its 1-1 and the home crowd go crazy – more with a great sense of relief.

Wellington respond with a clever Smeltz back heel that puts Lockhead away his cross/shot from five meters away is centimetres away from the far upright .

On 68 minutes Thomson’s down field through ball has Zura in the clear he beats Paston to the ball with his head, and the ball goes to Patafta who taps into an empty net its 2-1 Jets.

The Jets appear to wrap up the points but massive storm clouds are gathering in the skies around the ground as Wellington push for a equaliser, a corner has Covic punching straight to Ferrante, his fierce shot is deflected wide. In the final minute Thomson clumsily fouls Gao in the penalty area and in the pouring rain Smeltz converts as the home fans watch in disbelief, it ends 2-2.

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Newcastle Jets’ newest addition Edmundo Zura promises to add plenty of firepower to the Jets’ attack when the A-League 2008/2009 season kicks off.

The Ecuadorian national team player will not start in the Jets’ Pre-Season Cup match against Melbourne Victory tomorrow but the club expects him to be ready to play when the regular season kicks off.

Zura has joined the Jets on a one-year loan from Ecuadorian club Barcelona Sporting Club as the Jets’ marquee player for season four. The tall 24-year-old striker has seven caps for Ecuador and is famous for his colourful goal celebrations that involve him putting on a blue and white wrestling mask and running around the pitch like a madman.

Jets spokesperson Rob Brooks said Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond had been considering Zura for “some time” before making the decision to sign him. “Gary liked the look of him and worked hard with his agents to bring him across to Australia. He’s an exciting player.”

The flamboyant goal celebration had special meaning for Zura, who dedicated all of his goals to former Ecuadorian international Otilino Tenorio, who died in a car accident in 2005, Brooks said. He had brought one wrestling mask to Australia with him and would carry it in his shorts during Jets matches.

Zura said he had heard good things about the A-League and hoped to have a successful season with the Jets. “I have hope and faith that I am going to do the best job that I can do here. I am going to deliver on all the expectations that everybody has for me,” he said.

Zura’s combination with strikers Joel Griffiths and Jesper Hakansson, who was also signed by the Jets this week, should provide plenty of flair and goals in the upcoming season. Hakansson, 26, earned selection to Denmark’s national team last year and is a former winner of the Danish U-17 player of the year award.

The Jets first match of the 2008/2009 season is against the Central Coast Mariners on August 15. If Newcastle beats Melbourne convincingly tomorrow and Perth beats Adelaide, the Jets will make the Pre-Season cup final, to be played on August 6.

By James Heffield, Betfair soccer bet journalist