The Newcastle Jets have pulled off their best win of the A-League Men season, a 3-0 away victory over surprise leaders Wellington Phoenix.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos scored a double but Clayton Taylor provided the star turn, assisting the opener, scoring the Jets’ second and drawing a penalty 30 seconds after halftime.
Taylor, 19, picked up the ball behind the halfway line and beat four Phoenix players with a bustling run before being squashed in the box by retreating defenders Finn Surman and Scott Wooton.
Stamatelopoulos’ subsequent penalty put the game out of reach for Wellington, ending their unbeaten start to the season.
Rookie coach Giancarlo Italiano put the club on top of the table after six rounds, the first time the Kiwi side had made the league running in eight years.
Wellington’s loss means Western Sydney or Macarthur will replace them on top should they win their round-seven clashes.
On a blustery Saturday night, the Nix weren’t able to bring star striker Oskar Zawada into the contest, who hobbled off after an hour with a leg issue.
The Jets negotiated the conditions superbly and were ahead inside four minutes.
Taylor blitzed past Tim Payne, cutting inside and dragging the ball back for Stamatelopoulos who turned and struck inside the far post for Newcastle’s opener – and the club’s 600th A-League Men goal.
Wellington’s best first-half chances fell to goal-shy midfielders Nicholas Pennington and Alex Rufer, with nothing seriously testing Ryan Scott in the Jets net.
With the Phoenix eager to reset at halftime, Newcastle gave them a fresh headache with a second goal in the 43rd minute.
Taylor was on hand to bundle home when Alex Paulsen dropped a cross he looked surprised to have to deal with.
Payne hit the post twice in the second half as the Nix chased the match – with a 68th minute low strike and a 85th minute curling cross.
Those strikes were the closest Wellington came to a reply on the night their bubble burst.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Jets won in the end because Clayton Taylor was just too fast, powerful and skilful for Payne in particular. Maraguis put in a decent effort as well. Stamatepolous he scored 2 goals, but his workrate is poor , he could have done a lot more pressing and making runs for Piscopo. Piscopo was good but at the end of the game he was trying to hold onto the ball and dribble out of his own area. Maybe he was frustated he did some good work and played some good balls to Aquilina in particular only for the opportunities to be stuffed up. The problem with the Jets team, Aquilina his touch and effort look poor to 2 years ago and Ingham was careless and daydream like, Grozos not sure what he is up to. At last their defence was positioned better. Stanton I dont know , on the one hand he is bringing in the goods with the youth, on the other hand some of the other players that need an electric cattle prod or to be replaced with youth. Wellington have had a lot of luck previous to this game, they actually had a lot more chances in this match than some others but of course their defence the first time its really been exploited . They seemed to have played Zawada not fully fit as well. They now remind me of Macarthur and Western United 2 seasons go. Do they need to park the bus to succeed like those 2 teams did.
Brendan
Roar Pro
A great dose of confidence for the Jets.
Waz
Roar Rookie
The scoreline is a bit deceptive and they have played better and lost this season, but this should boost their confidence - shows what a good Coach can do to a team when it’s under the pump.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Wasn’t able to see the game, but glad the Jets won. Hopefully they can play like I read in front of their home fans.
Waz
Roar Rookie
That’s the Jets we’ve all come to know: “script? ….. what script?” :laughing: