Jets sink battling Victory in A-League

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:09 am

Melbourne Victory's miserable start to the A-League season has gone from bad to worse with a 1-0 loss to Newcastle at AAMI Park.

The Jets struck through 50th-gamer Angus Thurgate in the 72nd minute but could easily have taken the advantage earlier - after having two massive penalty shouts controversially waved away in the second half.

Newcastle are now five games unbeaten, but it was a rough day from last-placed Victory - who have now lost five of their opening seven matches - in front of 5,166 fans.

Grant Brebner dropped skipper Leigh Broxham to the bench, with Adama Traore given the captain's armband, while Callum McManaman returned from injury.

Newcastle dominated possession early and put Victory on the back foot, but failed to capitalise - and as the half went on, McManaman was dominant on the right wing, creating multiple chances.

Victory's Storm Roux was lucky to get away with a yellow card in the 29th minute for a high boot on Newcastle counterpart Connor O'Toole in an aerial duel - and after hitting his head in the incident, made way for Broxham in the 38th.

Victory's best chance came in the 48th minute, with Newcastle goalkeeper Jack Duncan diving at full-stretch to tap McManaman's long-range rocket onto the post.

The Jets screamed for a handball penalty when Broxham kicked the ball up into his own arm in the 56th minute but had their pleas waved away by referee Kurt Ams.

Just six minutes later, Victory's Jacob Butterfield cut down Luka Prso in the 18-yard box, but despite a lengthy VAR review, the Jets were again denied a spot-kick.

Victory goalkeeper Max Crocombe made an excellent double save to deny Roy O'Donovan, then Valentino Yuel in the 67th minute

But just five minutes later Yuel turned the Victory defence inside-out then laid the ball on a platter for Thurgate, who drilled home a classy finish.

Having already lost fellow defender Nick Ansell, Victory were unable to find a response and their dire day went from bad to worse when Traore limped off late - and they had no substitutions left.