A-League: Phoenix blow top-two finish with defeat to Jets

Wellington blew its chance of a top-two finish with a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle at Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night.

Newcastle’s Dimitri Petratos takes on Reno Piscopo of the Phoenix at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night. Picture: Getty Images

Wellington blew its chance of a top-two finish with a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle at Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night.

Needing a win to have any hope of leapfrogging second-placed Melbourne City on the A-League ladder, the Phoenix failed to make the most of their early dominance as they crumbled late to suffer their ninth defeat of the season.

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A top-two finish would have meant the Phoenix only had to win one game in the upcoming top-six playoffs to reach the grand final.

But they now are in danger of slipping to fourth spot if the in-form Western United wins its final two games of the regular season against Premiers Plate winner Sydney FC and Melbourne City.

Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay was a frustrated figure during the match, believing his side had at least three genuine shouts for penalties turned down by referee Alireza Faghani.

For the Jets, the win – which was secured via goals from Nick Fitzgerald, substitute Bernie Ibini and Jason Hoffman – lifted them to an eighth-placed finish and continued their impressive recent form under coach Carl Robinson.

Newcastle’s Nick Fitzgerald, right, celebrates after scoring against Wellington. Picture: Getty Images

Robinson gave teenage goalkeeper Noah James his A-League debut, and he made the most of his chance, impressing in the first half with three saves.

The first was in the eighth minute when he tipped a goalbound Callan Elliot strike over the bar.

James didn’t know much about his next save six minutes later but it was still effective as his head got in the way of a Matti Steinmann header from point-blank range.

The 19-year-old gloveman again showed his worth on the half-hour mark when he dived smartly to his right to deny Phoenix striker David Ball.

The Phoenix were made to pay for their failure to make the most of their chances when the Jets took the lead against the run of play on the stroke of halftime.

It was a superb team goal, with the move starting in the Jets’ own penalty area and including 22 passes before being finished by Fitzgerald, whose shot took a deflection off Wellington defender Luke DeVere on its way past goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic.

With their confidence up, the Jets continued to attack early in the second half, and it was only a great save from Marinovic in the 48th minute that denied Dimitri Petratos from doubling Newcastle’s lead.

The woodwork saved the Phoenix 15 minutes later when an Angus Thurgate shot from a Jason Hoffman cross hit the post.

But with the Phoenix pushing forward, the floodgates opened for the Jets, who doubled their lead through a sizzling Ibini strike in the 76th minute.

Hoffman sealed the win with Newcastle’s third goal three minutes later.

NCA Newswire