Besart Berisha has become the Hyundai A-League’s greatest-ever goal scorer in Melbourne Victory’s thrilling 4-2 win over Newcastle Jets in Geelong on Monday night.
After Jets defender John Koutroumbis was adjudged to have handled in the box, Berisha scored from the penalty spot to open the scoring to register his 91st Hyundai A-League goal.
The Albanian’s goal gives him the record on his own, taking him past former team-mate Archie Thompson (90 goals) and two clear of Wellington Phoenix’s Shane Smeltz (89), who will return to action on Thursday night.
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Berisha’s milestone capped an entertaining clash at Simonds Stadium, with further goals either side of the break to Marco Rojas and Fahid Ben Khalfallah putting Victory 3-0 up inside an hour.
The Jets hit back almost immediately through substitute Ma Leilei but James Troisi restored Victory’s three-goal lead soon after before a deflected Wayne Brown strike completed the scoring.
The win for second-placed Victory keeps them seven points behind league-leaders Sydney FC – with a game in hand – while the Jets are now in seventh position.
GOALS
1-0 Victory: Besart Berisha 30’ (pen)
From the handball decision in the box, Berisha slammed his penalty into the corner to the keeper’s right to secure his slice of history.
2-0 Victory: Marco Rojas 35’
James Troisi played a neat one-two with Berisha and surged into the box before crossing for Rojas to volley home from close range.
3-0 Victory: Fahid Ben Khalfallah 60’
Rojas turned provider this time, racing down the right before unselfishly squaring for Ben Khafallah. The Tunisian’s shot was partially blocked by Duncan but managed to trickle over the line.
3-1 Jets: Ma Leilei 61’
Twisted and turned past a couple of defenders before his low strike from distance beat Lawrence Thomas and snuck inside the post.
4-1 Victory: James Troisi 69’
The Jets failed to clear the ball from their own area with Troisi gaining possession, taking one touch forward before rifling a powerful effort past a stranded Duncan.
4-2 Jets: Wayne Brown 76’
A driving run from Brown ended with his shot from the edge of the box taking a wicked deflection off Carl Valeri to wrong-foot Lawrence and roll into the net.
CASUALTY WARD
Jets defender Ivan Vujica limped off just before the break with a hamstring injury.
CROWD
14,081 @ Simonds Stadium
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