Newcastle Jets moved past Sydney FC to second position with a convincing 1-0 win over a dissappointing Melbourne Victory in front of 9,037 fans in Newcastle this afternoon.
With only two rounds remaining after this game the top 4 challenging field was 'bunching on the turn' and the Jets (sitting one goal behind Central Coast at the start of the game) could with a win move to 2nd.
For Victory this was to be the last throw of the dice, a win would have propelled them to 5th above Glory on goal difference, and a chance for the top 4. A loss would leave them relying on defeating the Mariners at Gosford as well as a win at home over NZ and probably still fall short. A game with a lot at stake indeed.
Archie Thompson having jetted to the Netherlands left Melbourne short of reliable scoring power, and the loss of Richard Kitzbichler to injury only made it worse, however there were pluses - the return at last of Kevin Muscat, and the return of Chris Tadrosse to the bench.
Newcastle, despite a long injury list, had no such offensive problems with Ante Milicic and Vaughan Coveny starting and Labinot Haliti on the bench, plus they welcomed back the talented Jade North into defence.
On a hot afternoon, eased by a sea breeze the Melbourne side attacked from the outset, with midfielder Vince Lia backing up striker Daniel Allsopp up front.
As early as the 2nd minute Vince Lia tried to weave his way through on the right side of the area and got a weak shot in, but only to see it go past the right upright.
Two minutes later Michael Ferrante received a cut back from Lia and from 10m he skewed it wide on the right.
In the 9th minute Geoffrey Claeys miss-communicated with his goalkeeper Michael Theoklitis, which almost let Ante Milicic in - but the keeper extended his legs to scoop the ball to safety.
Melbourne continued to attack and Ferrante hit a cross from the right onto Allsopp's head however the striker could not get his header on target.
At last, at the 15th minute mark, the game turned a little and a Newcastle cross from the left to Vaughan Coveny who was lurking in the box. It created danger for the visitors but the 'keeper parried successfully. The ball however fell to Richard Johnson whose snap shot was well over.
Newcastle was now trying to work back into the game, and had a number of movements into the Victory goal area but could not get a shot on target.
In the 28th minute a snap shot from Kevin Muscat, who was being played as a defensive midfielder, was sent over the crossbar.
A great ball to Vince Lia at the 30 minute mark. Lia was being given space on the right, but his curling cross just couldn't be controlled by Allsopp in the centre.
Six minutes later the ball was laid back from Nick Carl to Jade North who hit it on the run, on target, but it was parried one-handed by Michael Theoklitis in the Melbourne goal - diving to his right - and it went for a for a corner.
A minute later a long ball from Paul Kohler over the defence found Vaughan Coveny moving up on the right, and he outpaced Claeys. As the keeper came off his line Milicic lobbed him nicely and the ball nestled into the left side of the net. 1-0
Kevin Muscat was involved just before half-time in two good moves. A back header off a corner but it went straight to Reddy, and a Muscat free kick to Vince Lia whose forcefull header went to Reddy but he held it well.
Two minutes into the second half Michael Ferrante was on target with a curling ball from the left but again Reddy held it without too much trouble.
In the 54th minute a Muscat snap shot wide on left after Allsopp's shot was blocked.
One minute later Nick Carle was played on in the box but the Melbourne goal-keeper came out to cover and the moment was lost.
Sarkies curling shot was blocked but from the corner Allsopp hit the right upright and it bounced back out to the 'keeper.
At the other end from the same movement Milicic broke away but he shot wide to the right, at an acute angle from the left.
In the 59th minute Theoklitis was slow to come for a ball in the area and just got the ball before the advancing Jets player.
Ten minutes later Ante Milicic received the ball in the goal area but couldn't beat the defender, but a corner was forced out by the Jets.
After some disruption to the game for cards and substitutions, in the 76th minute a corner from the right for Newcastle but nothing came of it but at the other end two minutes later from a corner the ball bounces of Geoffrey Claeys and just missed the right uprght.
In the 82nd minute Adrian Leijer shot well from 20m but it was again taken by Reddy.
There was a great through ball to Allsopp who looked like he was away, but Allan Picken covered and cleared.
In the last minutes a Leijer cross was sent from the left to the head of Allsopp but he directed it weakly to the keeper.
As the referee looked at his watch Kristian Sarkies had an opportunity to square the score but he overhit the free kick from 20m.
Newcastle deserved the win, without doing too much to say they are playing their best football. Still 3 points and into second spot with 2 rounds to go cannot be sneezed at. For Melbourne Victory the season is as good as over.
Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick was reported as saying that the Newcastle defeat effectively ended the Victory's campaign, stressing his squad had put in good performances throughout the season but hadn't been able to convert them into competition points. "I don't think we'll be making the finals now," he said. "I think on performance we've done well, but not on results." "When you lose strikers like Archie Thompson and Richard Kitzbichler, it's tough."