Lachlan Scott on target as Western Sydney win

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:49 am

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Teenage striker Lachlan Scott scored his maiden A-League goal to help Western Sydney Wanderers to their first home win of the season.

Scott's first-half strike and Jaushua Sotirio's 68th-minute effort sealed a much-needed 2-0 triumph over mid-table rivals Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.

The result was a long time coming for Tony Popovic's stuttering squad, winless in their past six games, with just 15 points from 15 rounds and needing a win to stay in touch with the top six.

For now at least, they move up into seventh and within goal difference of a playoff spot, while the revived Jets slip to eighth following their second loss in seven games.

Scott opened his A-League account in his 10th game, a little more than five months after netting a preseason FFA Cup brace at the same venue.

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Newcastle were enterprising but without the forward power of suspended Andrew Hoole, managed only a single shot on target, as Devante Clut battled for accuracy and Finnish striker Aleksandr Kokko struggled on a rare start.

While winger Andrew Nabbout was kept relatively quiet, Nicolas Martinez was his evasive self up the other end. But the visitors defended well and centre-back Lachlan Jackson often stopped Scott getting much service.

That was until the 44th minute, when Kearyn Baccus delivered a pass to the top of the box for the former youth-team striker to swivel before drilling the ball into the top-right corner.

Sotirio, a bundle of energy, threatened over and over to double the lead and finally got his moment 20 minutes from time via a deflected strike into the bottom left corner from a Dimas pass.