The Newcastle Jets have reclaimed second spot win a 2-1 win over the All White less Wellington Phoenix at Newcastle International Sports Centre in front of another healthy crowd in Newcastle.
Wellington Phoenix were without five All Whites - all first team regulars for a World Cup game against Fiji which didn't even get played. They lacked cohesion, too many passes went astray and really failed to create any thing.
The Jets had 18 year old Jason Holland in the starting line up (signed midweek from the AIS) interestingly Agentine Jorge Drovandi and Scott Tunbridge not even making the 15, both Mark Bridge and Stuart Musliak were on Olyroo duty.
It was the Jets who started quicker, Griffiths beats Cleberson down the left hand side he finds Hearfield but his shot is blocked by Moss.
On 17 minutes Spencer finds Griffiths he beats O'Dor on the left hand side and looks up and gives a on running Holland a perfect pass, he scores from the edge of the penalty area, 1-0 Jets.
Sixty seconds later a poor back pass has Ferrante with a one on one with Covic but his low shot is inches past the far upright. A further sixty seconds and play is at the other end a Griffiths Free kick is just over the cross bar.
The Jets look more lively and they continue to create the chances, Griffiths tees up Hearfield but from an acute angle he fires over the cross bar.
On the half hour the Phoenix finally look dangerous a Lia cross finds Old but his header is straight at the goal keeper. The Jets then quickly break and a Thomson pass has Griffiths on goal but Old is on hand to block the shot.
The Phoenix show they can look dangerous as a whipping Daniel cross is narrowly headed wide by Jets defender Wheelhouse.
In the 40th minute a sweeping Jets move has Denni to Thomson to Tarek Elrich who gives a defence splitting pass to Griffiths who fires it past Moss, 2-0 Jets
The beginning of the second half sees the debut of Socceroo Ahmad Elrich who comes on for Ferrante.
The 52nd minute has a poor Covic goal kick go straight to Daniel who puts Coveny through on goal, a Laybutt foul on Coveny stops him just before the penalty area has him given a yellow card and amazingly not a red one. Ahmad Elrich takes the free kick and it is just over the cross bar.
The Jets then play a sweet flowing move from their own half and Denni finds the edge of the area but his shot is over the cross bar.
In the 67th minute a nice Jets passing move ends in a Griffith pass for Tarek Elrich his fierce shot hits the upright. The very next passage of play Denni is through one on one with Moss but his soft shot is just wide of the upright much to the crowds disbelief. Then Holland has his close range effort saved by Moss.
On 75 minutes Phoenix have three corner's the final one has Lia firing past Covic but also past the far upright.
Tarek Elrich is face to face with his brother in the 80th minute, he rounds his older brother but he is brought down by him, for which Ahmad earns a yellow card - the knowledgeable crowd are laughing.
Mario Jardel comes on in the 86th minute, he doesn't even get to touch the ball.
The game ends in the 5th minute of time added on with a goal mouth scrabble in which Steven Old pokes the ball past Covic. 2-1 Jets.