Newcastle Jets remain on course for their second ever Finals Series appearance following a confident 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory at a wet AAMI Park on Friday.
Hannah Brewer’s first Westfield W-League goal put the seal on a fifth win in eight matches that momentarily sends Newcastle into first.
Tori Huster and Katie Stengel earlier scored either side of Kyra Cooney-Cross’ maiden top-flight goal to give the visitors a half-time lead and they were rarely troubled from there, ensuring Victory remain five points off the top four.
STORY OF THE GAME
- Huster gave Newcastle an early lead with their first attack of the match.
- But against the run of play, the hosts equalised through Cooney-Cross just prior to the half-hour.
- Stengel skilfully brought down Emily van Egmond’s smart pass, only to blast over the bar from a good position.
- The striker converted her next chance, forcing home a penalty following a foul on Brewer.
- Arin Gilliland tested Casey Dumont with a stinging shot from distance after the restart and soon fizzed another effort marginally over the bar.
- Newcastle’s pressure eventually resulted in a match-sealing third from Brewer with just under 20 minutes remaining.
- Stengel was denied what would have been a stunning second by the bar, and Cortnee Vine’s follow-up was ruled offside.
GOALS
Huster, Newcastle Jets 5′: 0-1
Jenna Kinglsey’s deflected ball in from the right dropped kindly for Huster, who manoeuvred her body well to guide a left-footed finish inside the near post.
Cooney-Cross, Melbourne Victory 28′: 1-1
Cooney-Cross got ahead of Nikola Orgill and headed Lia Privitelli’s pinpoint first-time cross in off the defender.
Stengel (p), Newcastle Jets 41′: 1-2
Brewer was chopped down in the area by Annabel Martin. Dumont got her left hand to Stengel’s resultant spot-kick but was unable to keep it out.
Brewer, Newcastle Jets 72′: 1-3
Brewer this time turned scorer as she won possession, dribbled into the area, collected a one-two with Stengel and finished coolly at close range.
