Marvellous Marco Sends Jets Packing



Melbourne Victory 5-0 Newcastle Jets
A-League Round 23
AAMI Park
Attendance – 17,778

A scintillating performance from attacker Marco Rojas (right), which yielded a brace and an assist for the Kiwi, provided the catalyst for Melbourne Victory to stroll past Newcastle Jets and end a run of three losses in the process.

Captain Adrian Leijer got on the scoresheet too before midfielder Mark Mulligan converted two spot-kicks to send Ange Postecoglou’s side third in the league table as they inflicted a rout.

The day belonged to the diminutive 21 year old Rojas though, who started and ended the scoring, while achieving plenty in between.

His coolly taken finish past Mark Birighitti after just eight minutes opened the floodgates and set the tone for a painful afternoon for the Jets who were later reduced to ten men as a result of the aforementioned penalties.

The quick start continued as Leijer proceeded to power home an outswinging Rojas corner from eight yards on the quarter hour mark, moments before a controversial decision went against the hosts; referee Jarred Gillett ruling out an exact copy of Victory’s second without blowing his whistle after Jets midfielder Ruben Zadkovich was floored by a teammate.

If that error played on the referee’s mind then he was quick to atone and duly awarded the first of the afternoon’s two penalties. Lively striker Archie Thompson fell under a challenge from Taylor Regan and Mulligan dispatched the ball to put Postecoglou’s side in cruise control.

Chances were at a premium for the visitors, but home ‘keeper Nathan Coe did well to tip an Adam Taggart effort wide of the post before the interval.

The contest really opened up in the second half, to the hindrance of a beleaguered Newcastle side who were devoid of structure or spatial awareness but to the benefit of Thompson who had several chances but couldn’t capitalise.

On 54 minutes Thompson found Connor Pain, who found the bottom of a post standing between him and a goal before Rojas inadvertently turned provider for number four; his sumptuous free kick delivery resulted in Regan grappling a Victory shirt, giving away another penalty and collecting his second booking.

Mulligan slammed home from 12 yards, ten minutes prior to the coup de grace: Rojas used all his wizardry as he waltzed past three excuses for a backline, only to effotrlessly round the keeper and cap an exquisite move containing balance and control beyond his years.

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