Newcastle Jets suffer shock home loss to Wellington Phoenix

The A-League's bottom club Wellington Phoenix capitalised on two mix-ups and an undermanned defence to shock second-placed Newcastle Jets 3-2 in their match at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The Jets applied the early pressure on Saturday but were down 2-0 at half-time in the round-17 game after two forgettable moments for returning goalkeeper Jack Duncan.

Duncan, back from a foot injury, was a late replacement in the starting side after Glen Moss hurt his hip in the warm-up.

The 24-year-old was left red-faced in the 28th minute when misreading a ball in from Serbian midfielder Matija Ljujic.

The Phoenix's Michael McGlinchey made a run into the box and Duncan was left wrong-footed for Ljujic to score.

Former Jet Daniel Mullen scored in the 36th minute with a header off a Matthew Ridenton corner, while Duncan was blocked by his own defender.

Newcastle pulled one back in the 48th minute when Patricio Rodriguez's back-heel put Daniel Georgievski into space before he found an unmarked Andrew Nabbout for the finish.

However, with Jets centre-back and skipper Nigel Boogaard off the pitch for treatment to a head gash, the Phoenix were two ahead again in the 58th minute when Roy Krishna scored off a Nathan Burns cutback.

Dimi Petratos scored from the spot four minutes from time after substitute Angus Thurgate was fouled to give the hosts hope. Referee Jarred Gillett reviewed the penalty call and Marco Rossi was shown to commit the slightest of shirt tugs.

There was drama in injury time when Thurgate went down in the box after contact with Andrew Durante but Gillett waved away penalty calls before the VAR stuck with the on-field decision.

The Jets, going for a club record fifth-consecutive home win, will retain second on 33 points. The Phoenix move to 14 but remain bottom of the table.