Gutsy Jets too good

1-1 after 34 minutes.

Newcastle showed plenty of courage to regain the lead right on the stroke of half-time when Song and Elrich worked a play down the right wing. Elrich strode into space before lofting a cross into the box where Bridges timed his run into the box perfectly to get between Langerak and Adrian Leijer and forced the ball in from three yards out.

Both side made changes at half-time with striker Sean Rooney coming on for Bridges and Grant Brebner replacing Victory's Costa Rican debutant Marvin Angulo. And despite being a man down it was the Jets who stretched their lead in the 56th minute.

Vargas was again found to be playing too deep in the defensive line and Song took advantage by chipping a lovely ball over the top for Haliti who volleyed home a left-footed shot into the far corner.
The Jets looked like adding another in the 65th when Rooney leapt high to meet Song's swinging free-kick but Langerak produced a good save to keep his side in the game.

Langerak was forced to produce another fine diving save to keep out Song's swerving free kick from 25 metres out while down the other end Jets custodian Neil Young did well to extinguish a rare raid by the Victory with Nick Ward's shot to the near post.

The Victory finally came to life in the final 10 minutes and snatched a late goal when Kruse played in Hernandez who slotted home from 15 metres out.

But it was too little too late as Newcastle held on to record their fifth victory from their last six starts to maintain their drive for the finals.

Newcastle Jets 3
(Thompson 26, Bridges 45, Haliti 56)
Melbourne Victory 1
(Muscat 34p, Hernandez 90+2)
Crowd 6,979 at EnergyAustralia Stadium