Newcastle Jets celebrated their first home win of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season after stunning Melbourne Victory 3-0.
The Jets had not won at McDonald Jones Stadium since April 2024 but Newcastle snapped that hoodoo thanks to goals from Kosta Grozos, Clayton Taylor and Lachie Rose on Saturday evening.
Jets goalkeeper Noah James, who has been with the club since the age of 12, also starred as the 23-year-old made his first appearance of the season and first since debuting in the A-Leagues in 2020 after Ryan Scott was moved to the bench.
With the shock win that snapped a four-game winless run, Newcastle improved to 15 points from 15 matches – nine points outside of the top six, while fourth-placed Victory
Victory dominated the first half but went into the interval with nothing to show for it.
The visitors could not find a way past Jets goalkeeper James who stood up and justified his selection in the opening 45 minutes alone.
James stood tall to deny Zinedine Machach and Adama Traore, who was thwarted by the 23-year-old after a fine team move from Victory ended with the Ivory Coast international getting in behind Newcastle’s defence.
The Jets continued to live dangerously as Victory turned the screw and applied the pressure, with their interchanging play and movement in attack wreaking havoc.
Newcastle did find the back of the net in the 33rd minute, against the run of play, but Thomas Aquilina’s effort was ruled out for offside after a nervy moment 13 minutes earlier saw Victory’s retired Socceroo Mitch Langerak spill a cross.
It was a testing start to the second half for Victory, who were unfortunate not to concede after Taylor’s shot flashed just wide of the post in the 47th minute before visiting skipper Roderick Miranda’s header almost caught out his own goalkeeper.
The Jets did find the back of the net again approaching the hour mark after substitute Lachie Rose struck, but once more, it was chalked off for offside.
Rose was involved in a big moment in the 78th minute after going down as he tried to beat Langerak to the ball inside the box. After the referee was encouraged by the VAR to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, a spot-kick was awarded as replays showed the Victory keeper made contact with the Newcastle forward’s head.
After a medical emergency in the crowd, Grozos converted the penalty before Taylor put the result beyond doubt five minutes later, deep in stoppage time.
Rose then added gloss to the scoreline as Victory faded during the closing stages on the road.
