Late Morten Nordstrand goal gives Newcastle Jets victory over Adelaide

Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images

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Newcastle Jets climbed into the A-League's top six with a 2-1 win against Adelaide thanks to Morten Nordstrand's goal in the dying seconds sparing the blushes of goalkeeper Jack Duncan who had scored an own goal.

Substitute Nordstrand, in his first game back from injury, scored a 94th-minute winner to add to Andrew Nabbout's first-half opener and cancel out Duncan's error, which appeared certain to throw away victory on Friday night.

With Newcastle leading 1-0 and in control, Duncan attempted to punch clear an Isaias free kick, but instead punched the ball into the ground and then his own net.

It was the 23-year-old's second match-changing mistake against the Reds this season after he clattered into teammate Daniel Mullen in the opening round of fixtures to hand them a 1-1 equaliser.

Nevertheless, the result marks the Jets' first triumph over Adelaide in two years and caps a two-week revival that's lifted them from ninth place into, at least temporarily, finals contention.

Meanwhile, the defending champions' sorry season, in which they have six points from 11 games, continued, but it wasn't for a lack of chances.

The Reds could have scored twice in quick succession when Henrique's deflected shot trickled wide just before Iacopo La Rocca's header hit the post in the first half.

Sergio Cirio would have had one before his teammates had Duncan not saved his third-minute effort.

But Mark Jones' men were in an enterprising mood after last week's morale-boosting 2-1 upset of Perth

And in the end they drew first blood via one of the league's most-improved players in Nabbout.

The in-form Wayne Brown fed Devante Clut, who cleverly drew an opponent and sent a pinpoint pass to Nabbout.

The winger's reaction was just as precise, taking a touch before calmly drilling low past Eugene Galekovic.

Though United fought for an equaliser they left their resolve in the dressing room at halftime.

The Jets stayed in the hunt and Andrew Hoole found dangerous areas but misplaced his decision-making skills at the final touch.

He hit the post in the dying minutes and Brown was also denied, leaving Nordstrand to seal the match with his second goal of the campaign.