Jets outshine lackluster Gold Coast

Newcastle Jets scored their second successive 2-0 win with 10 men and stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches when they defeated Gold Coast United at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Jets continued their good midweek form after beating the Heart last week by the same margin, with Ali Abbas and Sasho Petrovski doing the business at the right end in the second half to see off a poor Gold Coast side minus Jason Culina.

Ljubo Milicevic received his marching orders after committing a second bookable offence in the 78th minute, but it did little to disrupt the Jets’ solid performance or hand an advantage to a toothless Gold Coast attack.

A healthy crowd of just over 8,000 turned out on a spectacular evening in the Hunter to see their side dominate the Gold Coast and boss the match from the get-go.

Only a goal was missing from the Jets’ first half performance as they outplayed Gold Coast, enjoying the majority of the possession and were the only side looking dangerous in front of goal.

Francis Jeffers had two glorious chances in quick succession to give the Jets the lead but was denied twice by superb saves from Gold Coast custodian, Glen Moss.

Jeffers was put through one-on-one by Marko Jesic in the 23rd minute but had his shot blocked by Moss who was out faster than lightning to shut down the angle on the former Arsenal man.

Jeffers was again denied minutes later after he eased his way around Dino Djulbic like a witches hat, but could do no more than hit a fast-out Moss.

Gold Coast were lucky to go into the break level after being under the pump for much of the first half and not much changed for them in the second as the Jets continued to ramp up the pressure.

Abbas was unlucky not to give his side the lead in the 47th minute when he sent a curling shot destined for the top corner, only to be denied by an outstanding save from Moss who deflected the ball onto the crossbar and had it bounce off the goal line.

Abbas then sent the Novocastrian crowd into euphoria when he struck a ferocious left foot strike past Moss and into the back of Gold Coast’s net to give the Jets a deserved 1-0 lead in the 76th minute.

The Jets went down to 10 men only moments after gaining the lead when Milicevic clattered Joel Porter in a late tackle to earn his second yellow card of the match.

As if unaffected by the send off, the Jets continued to push forward and super sub, Sasho Petrovski , did what he does best when he scored the Jets’ second goal and sealed the win in the 82nd minute.

Moss could only parry a dipping Wehrman freekick into the path of Petrovski, who controlled on his chest well under pressure from Djulbic and volleyed home from an acute angle.

The important win moves the Jets into fifth place on the ladder and holds them in good stead for a finals berth, while Gold Coast need to improve in the front third if they are to compete with the top sides come finals time.