The Newcastle Jets have defeated Melbourne Victory 1-0 in their National Youth League clash at Bob Jane Stadium on Saturday.

The opening minutes saw end to end play without any real threat to either goal. Nick Ward was prominent early for Victory gaining some early touches all over the park.

The Jets had an early opportunity to strike in the 10th minute after Fabio Di Lizia fouled Shaun Ontong on the edge the box. The resulting free kick was taken by Jesper Hakansson but it was met easily by Mitchell Langerak.

Melbourne had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 17th minute when a good through ball by Pantelidis put Ward in the box. With just Ben Kennedy to beat, Ward shot over the bar.

In the 19th minute only the brilliance of Mitchell Langerak came between the Jets and the lead. Matt Thompson’s pass found Jason Naidovski whose shot to the bottom right corner was palmed out by the diving Langerak.

Newcastle opened the scoring in the 27th minute. The Jets were awarded the free kick for handball only 10 metres outside the box. Matt Thompson’s curling free was saved by Langerak only for Marko Jesic to smash the rebound into the back of the net.

In the 41st minute Victory had another chance when Ward threaded a gap to pass to Nathan Elasi whose shot was blocked by Kennedy.

An eventful first half came to an end after one additional minute with the Jets leading 1-0.

Victory started the second half in the same manner as the first with attacking play. Leigh Broxham’s shot from outside the box in the 47th minute was taken by Kennedy diving low to his right.

Victory had a free kick in the 48th minute after a foul by Antun Kovacic resulted in him being the first player booked for the game. Nick Ward met the free with a glancing header, but it was well over the cross bar.

The end to end action continued with Langerak’s best efforts required to dive at full stretch and palm out Kovacic’s header in the 51st minute.

After an early flurry of goal scoring opportunities early in the second half, the free flowing play became somewhat halted with some tackles and rough challenges resulting in yellow cards to the Victory’s Leigh Broxham and Mifit Bojku.

The Jets had a chance to double their advantage in the 76th minute when Hakansson passed the ball to Patafta, who laid it off to Harper, running towards Langerak, but his shot was poor and didn’t force the Victory stopper into making a save.

In the 85th minute Ward chased down a seemingly lost ball before it went out of play to earn his team a corner. Di Lizia met the corner with an unchallenged header but it was over the cross bar.

In the 90th minute Victory pushed forward once again. Griffiths rushed to the ball but the bounce was unkind, leaving him to head it from outside the box. It went to Ward who centred to Elasi, whose shot was cleared off the line by a desperate Newcastle defence.

The Jets held off the late challenge from Victory to record only their second win of the season. The win keeps them in touch with the top four on 7 points, whilst Victory remain on the bottom with only one win from their eight matches.

Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic was pleased with his team’s performance, but disappointed with the result.

“We played quite well and had our chances,” he said.

“One mistake in defence was costly, we are a young side and made small mistakes.”

Durakovic was positive his side could bounce back and find some winning form.

“We will look at the mistakes made and try to rectify them,” he said.

“We are not doing a lot wrong, but it is a matter of simple mistakes costing us.”

www.a-league.com

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.