The Newcastle Jets are back on top of the Isuzu UTE A-League after Clayton Taylor’s hat-trick saw them defeat Adelaide United 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Coopers Stadium.
Sat second on the ladder coming into the game, the Jets looked to start quickly at Coopers Stadium and threatened early when Lachie Rose drilled a low effort across the face of goal that flew inches wide of Smits’ far post
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Despite the Jets’ strong start to the contest Adelaide grew into the game and thought they’d been awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when Yaya Dukuly appeared to be tripped inside the box by Max Burgess.
However, a subsequent VAR review deemed Burgess’ challenge to be a fair one and referee Jonathon Barreiro overturned his initial decision.
Adelaide were dealt a huge blow in the 22nd minute as captain Craig Goodwin was forced from the field with what appeared to be a significant groin injury, with the Socceroo visibly in pain as he limped down the tunnel.
The Jets then threatened again when a stunning solo run from full back Daniel Wilmering saw him pick out Eli Adams inside the box, however the attacker’s powerful shot from close range struck Smits in the midriff.
Brought on in place of injured skipper Goodwin, hot-shot Brody Burkitt looked to produce another super sub performance for the Reds and he thought he’d broken the deadlock in the 44th minute.
Racing on to a pass over the top Burkitt cushioned the ball down before lashing it into the far corner to make it 1-0, however the goal was chalked off due to the tightest of offsides.
Newcastle then went straight up the other end and scored.
Receiving the ball down the Jets left, Taylor cut back onto his right foot and curled a cross into the near post which was aimed at the arriving Rose, however the ball missed it’s intended target but bounced beyond everyone and into the far corner to give the away side the lead.
Five minutes into the second half the Jets doubled their advantage and once again it was Taylor who found the back of the net.
A sweeping move saw the Jets carve the Reds open and when Lachlan Bayliss fed Taylor in down the left the attacker opened up his body and drilled a powerful low effort across the keeper and into the far corner.
90 seconds later the Jets then had the chance to seal it as Rose raced through on goal but was denied by Smits, and that save would prove to be pivotal.
In the immediate aftermath of that save Adelaide charged down the other end and halved the deficit through Spanish playmaker Juan Muniz, who slotted the ball beyond James Delianov after he was picked out inside the box by Luka Jovanovic.
The home fans were then on their feet again, this time in the 63rd minute as substitute Ethan Alagich’s first touch of the game saw him put Dukuly through on goal and the winger didn’t disappoint; cutting inside Wilmering before firing the ball beyond Delianov to make it 2-2.
But with the game bouncing from end to end it was anyone’s guess as to who would score next and Coopers Stadium would prove to be a happy hunting ground for Taylor.
Capitalising on a loose touch from experienced Adelaide defender Bart Vriends, Taylor sprinted clear of the Reds backline and coolly slotted the ball beyond Smits to seal his hat-trick and restore the Jets’ lead.
Adelaide were inches away from finding the equaliser in the 90th minute as the lively Dukuly rattled the post with a powerful effort from inside the box before Ben Folami then sent a teasing ball across goal which went was just begging to be nodded home but nobody was on hand.
The home side had one last crack at finding the equaliser as they threw everything forward and they hit the bar deep into stoppage time care of a Ryan White header.
However, the Jets held on to seal a memorable win at Coopers Stadium which sees them jump back to the top of the table after recording a sixth-straight victory.
Meanwhile defeat for Adelaide sees them remain in sixth place on the ladder, a point clear of Melbourne City in seventh.
