The Melbourne Victory have sprung an upset by defeating the Newcastle Jets 2-0 in their Round 13 National Youth League clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
The Jets went into the match in fifth place on the NYL ladder but it was the bottom-placed Victory who held control for the balance of the match.
Melbourne scored both their goals from corner situations with Victory defender Fabio De Lizia poking in the opener in the 22nd minute and Nathan Elasi heading in from the back post 12 minutes into the second half.
Newcastle launched a wave of attacks in the final half-hour but couldn-t manage to find the back of the net and it was the Victory who registered just their second win of the campaign. The loss leaves the Jets in fifth place three behind Perth Glory, who play league leaders Sydney FC on Saturday.
After a fairly dour opening 20 minutes it was the Victory who started to mount some serious attacks on goal.
Dimitri Hatzimouratis hit the crossbar with a viscious shot from the edge of the area and just moments later defender Fabio De Lizia poked home after a goal-mouth scramble following a corner in the 22nd minute.
The Victory went close again a few moments later when Mathew Theodore fired wide from the edge of the area. Jets- goalkeeper Jordan Griffiths made a number of good saves to keep his side in the match with the Victory holding a 1-0 lead at half-time.
The visitors picked up where they left off in the first half and doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute courtesy of Elasi, who rose high at the back post to meet a corner and head into the opposite corner of the net.
Newcastle finally sprung into action just before the hour mark.
Winger Ben Martin attacked a James Virgili cross from wide on the right flank, forcing a good save from substitute Victory keeper Sebastian Mattei. Moments later Brendan Mooy fired a long-range shot just wide of the right post before drilling a shot straight at Mattei following another good cross from Virgili.
With the Jets pressing hard in attack the Victory defence muscled up to the Jets forwards seeing a spate of yellow cards. Mooy and Simon Mooney wasted more good chances in front of goal for the home side and match finished in a deserved 2-0 win for the Victory.
Match Details
Newcastle Jets 0
Melbourne Victory 2 (Fabio DI LIZIA 22-, Nathan ELASI 53-)
Friday 19 December
EnergyAustralia Stadium
Local kick off 5.15pm AEDT
Referee: Kevin Docherty
Assistant Referees: Michael Amloh, Nathan Magill
Fourth Official: Tim McGilchrist
Newcastle Jets line up: 1.Jordan GRIFFITHS (gk), 2.Simon MOONEY, 3.Jarrad ROSS, 4.Jon GRIFFITHS, 5.George STROGYLOS (15.Joel WITHERDIN 58-), 6.Taylor REGAN (c), 7.Brodie MOOY, 8.Matt HARPER, 9.Ben MARTIN (14.Antun KOVACIC (OA) 56-), 10.Jesse PINTO (12.Adrian KARAKOLEVSKI 56-), 11.James VIRGILLI.
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: George STROGYLOS 31-, Taylor REGAN 77-.
Red Cards: Nil.
Melbourne Victory line up: 1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) ( 20.Sebastian MATTEI (gk) 45-), 3.Sebastian RYALL, 4.Matthew FOSCHINI, 5.Fabio DI LIZIA, 6.Cameron DRAKE, 7.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Stephen HATZIKOSTAS (2.Robert WYNNE 60-), 9.Mathew THEODORE,10.Nathan ELASI (15.Damir LOKVANCIC 60-), 11.Dimitri HATZIMOURATIS, 12.Tedros YABIO (14.Mifit BOJKU 45-).
Substitutes not used: Nil.
Yellow cards: Leigh BROXHAM 33-, Cameron DRAKE 77-, Fabio DI LIZIA 79-.
Red Cards: Nil.
