The Melbourne Victory have earned their first win of the National Youth League season with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.
An opportune goal to Melbourne defender Matthew Foschini and a penalty to Victory skipper Aziz Behich gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at half-time in the Round 6 fixture.
Jason Niadovski gave the Jets some hope of a comeback with a goal in the 70th minute and the home side went close on a number of occasions but a determined Melbourne side hung on gamely for the win.
Newcastle looked the better team in the first half creating a number of opportunities without being able to convert.
Defender Jarrod Ross and Naidovski had goal-bound free kicks well saved by Victory goalkeeper Sebastian Mattei before Naidovski pushed a shot wide after getting into space behind the visitors defence.
But it was Melbourne that grabbed the opener when Foschini poked the ball home after a goal-mouth scramble following a corner in the 14th minute.
Behich doubled Melbourne’s advantage when he earned a penalty in the 29th minute.
The wily attacking midfielder, who was the best player on the park, got in behind Ross down the right flank only for the defender to pull him down from behind when he sprinted into the box.
Newcastle strained to hit back with forward James Virgili wasting a golden opportunity when he shot over the crossbar in the 42nd minute after being played into the box.
The second half was a much tighter affair with both sides creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Behich again looked the man most likely for Melbourne causing the Newcastle defence plenty of headaches with his incisive runs down both flanks and through the midfield.
Newcastle still had the better of the chances though and deservedly pulled one back when Naidovski calmly steered home a cross from six yards out after good lead-up work down the left flank from Mario Simic and Scott Balderson.
Balderson almost scored two minutes later but his strike from 15 yards out was saved by some desperate defending from Mattei whose outstretched boot deflected the ball wide.
Jason Hoffman looked like he might level the scores when he raced onto a long ball from Jessie Pinto to go one on one with Mattei but his shot skimmed agonisingly wide of the far post.
Naidovski almost snatched a late equaliser in injury time but his 20-yard strike sailed wide and Melbourne was able to hold on for a well-earned victory.
Newcastle Jets 1 (Naidovski 70)
Melbourne Victory 2(Foschini 14, Behich 29p)
