NEWCASTLE Jets defeated Melbourne Victory 3-1 at Telstra Dome to dump the defending champions out of the 2007-2008 A-League finals race.
Two moments of Joel Griffiths magic effectively killed off the Victory’s hopes of a top-four berth, and powered the Jets back into the race for a top-two berth.
The Victory, dominant champions last season, are now locked in a race to avoid the competition wooden spoon after claiming an early 1-0 lead. They sit just one point above Perth, on equal points with Wellington Phoenix, a pale shadow in performance and ladder position of the side that carved up the A-League last season.
Needing to win to keep their finals hopes alive, the Victory got the early goal they craved after just 11 minutes, when Carlos Hernandez snuck between two Jets defenders to turn in an Adrian Caceres cross.
The Victory continued to dominate possession in the first half without creating any real clear chances, and the Jets made them pay when Brazilian midfielder Denni scored an equaliser of quality in the 41st minute.
His low volley from a Matt Thompson cross rocketed into the net, and the Victory’s finals lifeline was figuratively left dangling in the wind.
Griffiths further dented the Victory’s ambitions with a beautifully struck free-kick in the 54th minute, clipping the ball over the wall from just outside the penalty area before it bent inside the right-hand upright to give his side the lead.
Griffiths then killed the game in the 76th minute, squirming between two Victory defenders and shooting low and wide of goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos to finish off last season’s champions in style.
Newcastle are in third place on the ladder, two points behind second-placed Queensland and two above fourth-placed Adelaide United with four matches remaining.
AAP
Source: Jets kill Melbourne ambitions
