A Kevin Muscat led Melbourne Victory and two own goals by Sung-Hwan Byun has defeated Newcastle Jets 2-1 at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Melbourne Victory announces their new coach as Jim Magilton but Kevin Muscat takes charge of this must win encounter and makes two changes with Danny Allsopp and Fabio coming in for Diogo Ferreira and Isaka Cernak. Newcastle Jets made three changes with Nikola Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich and Michael Bridges making way for Marko Jesic, Labinot Haliti and Tiago Calvano.
The visitors from Newcastle created the first chance with Labinot Haliti who put in a great low ball for Ryan Griffiths but his effort was poor and straight at Ante Covic.
Five minutes later Victory opened the scoring thanks to an own goal by Sung-Hwan Byun after a great low cross by Harry Kewell. The Korean defender slid into the box with Allsopp before finishing past his own goalie.
Both sides struggled early on after the opener to hold possession but Victory looked dangerous on the counter and pushed forward quickly.
In the space of two minutes Newcastle created two great chances. First with Griffiths whose header was tipped over by Covic before Haliti's brilliant volley was hit straight at the experienced goalie.
Victory's response was to run straight up the other end with Archie Thompson cutting in from the left but he unfortunately hit the post.
Marko Jesic was the next Jet to test Covic in goals with a curling effort from the edge of the box but the Victory custodian saved comfortably.
On 38 minutes Carlos Hernandez saw Jets 'keeper Ben Kennedy off his line and shot from inside of the centre circle but the ball sailed over.
Seconds later Griffiths found some space and shot a powerful drive wide of the net.
Five minutes into the second-half Hernandez was first to try his luck but the Costa Rican's powerful effort was deflected for a corner.
On 51 minutes Leigh Broxham made Kennedy work for his money when the 'keeper saved well from Broxham's flick off a Hernandez corner.
Two minutes later Tarek Elrich was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity when his tackle won the ball after touch Allsopp.
Hernandez continued to cause havoc with his corners when Rodrigo Vargas flicked on another corner before it was deflected for yet another corner.
On 64 minutes Petar Franjic got on the end of Hernandez's great free-kick but his header was directed straight at Kennedy.
Two minutes later and Victory again could have extended their lead as Allsopp's low cross was met by Thompson only for Kennedy to save brilliantly.
On 74 minutes Byun scored another own goal. Hernandez played a brilliant ball to Thompson who ran into the box before passing towards Harry Kewell. But the Korean's interception was put into the net.
Six minutes later Victory continued to look for a third as Allsopp did well to cut onto his left foot from the right before shooting wide.
On 85 minutes Newcastle scored a late consolidation as Byun tried to make up for his two own goals with a brilliant cross to Griffiths whose first time strike was smashed into the net.
Despite the late efforts of Newcastle Jets Victory held on to win the encounter 2-1. Victory jump up to sixth with three games of the round to be played.