01-20-2007, 11:17 AM
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Jets belt Victory
Friday, 19 January, 2007 - 9:59PM
The Newcastle Jets have claimed a claimed a place in the A-League final series after stunning minor premiers Melbourne Victory 4-0 at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday.
Melbourne were awarded the Premiership trophy before kick-off but the Jets dominated the game, controlling 65 per cent of possession and taking the lead with goals to Mark Bridge on either side of the half-time break.
Further strikes from Vaughan Coveny and Joel Griffiths completed the rout, cementing Newcastle a finals berth and setting up a showdown between Sydney and Queensland for the fourth play-off spot on Saturday.
It was Melbourne's first away loss of the season and by far their most crushing defeat of the campaign.
"Obviously 4-0 is a hell of a scoreline against the minor premiers," Jets coach Gary Van Egmond said.
"But the boys had it all on the line and they duly permormed.
"The belief has always been that we can go all the way."
Victory coach Ernie Merrick said his team ran into a Newcastle side at their best but would bounce back next week for the final series.
"The Jets couldn't do anything wrong," Merrick said.
"They played really well. They're the one team that has outplayed us this year."
The Jets had the game's first real chance in the fifth minute, with Griffiths latching on to a great ball down the right by Steve Eagleton, who forced a diving save from Michael Theoklitos.
Theoklitos had to parry a header from Tim Brown over the bar moments later, as the hosts pressured Melbourne's goal with three straight corners.
Newcastle continued to make all the running but couldn't convert possession into a goal, with Matt Thompson and Brown both finding space but shooting wide after some slick passing from the home side.
But the home crowd erupted when Bridge grabbed the opener, intercepting a poorly placed pass from Danny Allsopp on the edge of the box before coolly slotting past Theoklitos.
Victory captain Kevin Muscat immediately tried to hit back with a goal of his own, testing out Ante Covic with an audacious strike from halfway which the Jets 'keeper had to parry wide.
Melbourne then should have equalised through Archie Thompson, who dribbled to the six-yard box from the corner of the area only to see his strike hit the outside of the left post.
Brown and Griffiths both headed wide for the hosts in the opening moments of the second half before Bridge scored his second, capitalising on a mistimed clearance from Rodrigo Vargas to run clear and again find the back of the net.
The hosts soon made it three when Nick Carle sent Coveny clear with a fine through pass, and the Kiwi striker made no mistake to give Newcastle an unbeatable lead and a guaranteed playoff spot.
The party continued for the near 20,000-strong crowd, as Matt Thompson made a run down the left flank and sent a ball to the far post for Griffiths to slam home the fourth.
Newcastle United Jets 4 (Bridge 36, 48, Coveny 51, Griffiths 73)
Melbourne Victory 0
Crowd: 19,601 at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
| Credit - A-league.com.au |
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