It was Newcastle’s biggest ever defeat, and it could have been even worse.
Adelaide United produced a master-class performance on Saturday, hammering the hapless Jets 7-0 at Coopers Stadium as the A-League resumed after a three-week hiatus.
It surpassed the Jets’ previous worst ever result – a 6-0 Asian Champions League hiding against Pohang Steelers in 2009 – and struggling coach Phil Stubbins admitted he is at a loss.
“I’m really starting to question how we can take everything forward,” he said after the Jets stretched their winless run to five matches.
Stubbins had to acknowledge that his side were completely outclassed by Adelaide, who moved to within three points of ladder leaders Perth Glory.
“Credit to Adelaide, they were just a wonderful product today,” Stubbins said.
“We got smashed from start to finish: it could’ve probably been more if I’m putting my hand on my heart.”
The Reds treated the 10,960 spectators to a hugely impressive display, with Marcelo Carrusca and Bruce Djite both scoring twice.
Nigel Boogaard and Sergio Cirio also netted before Isaias capped the win with a contender for goal of the season – his first ever goal for the Reds.
The win was the club’s best under coach Josep Gombau and the biggest since United’s record 8-1 win over North Queensland Fury in 2011.
“We are so satisfied with today’s game,” Gombau said.
“Today we scored the chances that we have, it’s important.
“Sometimes we create but we don’t score and today we had this high percentage that every time we arrive (at the goal) we score.”
Djite broke the deadlock after just two minutes, smashing a shot from six yards through the legs of Jets ‘keeper Ben Kennedy.
Carrusca doubled the advantage on 23 minutes, latching onto a sublime no-look, 30-metre through-ball from Isaias, before taking a touch and calmly rounding Kennedy.
The Reds continued to surge forward and Newcastle’s Adrian Madaschi conceded a penalty on the half hour when he brought down Michael Marrone.
Kennedy scored from a twice-taken penalty and Madaschi was immediately substituted for young South Australian Allan Welsh.
Boogaard got in on the act with a back-heeled goal on 40 minutes and it took just eight minutes of the second half for United to add a fifth, Djite pouncing on Tarek Elrich’s blocked shot and picking out the bottom corner of Kennedy’s goal.
With Adelaide in complete control, Gombau took the opportunity to hand a debut to young goalkeeper John Hall on the hour mark.
United were awarded a second penalty on 68 minutes when Kennedy fouled substitute Pablo Sanchez. Cirio relieved Carrusca of his spot-kick duties and sent Kennedy the wrong way to make it 6-0.
Midfielder Isaias capped the victory in emphatic fashion, bending a 30-metre effort into the top corner in the last minute of injury time.
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