This was published 7 years ago
Melbourne Victory held to scoreless draw by dominant Newcastle Jets
By Emma Kemp
The Hunter is again an unhappy hunting ground for a Melbourne Victory, whose A-League Premiers' Plate ambitions have all but dissolved after a stalemate with Newcastle left them 11 points adrift of leaders Sydney FC.
The Jets reaped no reward from their dominant display at McDonald Jones Stadium on Monday night, but took a point to lift them back into the top six and in the hunt for a first finals berth in seven seasons.
Kevin Muscat had challenged his second-placed side to perform at a ground he said lacked a big-crowd atmosphere
But in the rescheduled clash in front of 6233 spectators, a harried Victory were outplayed in attack and can be thankful their lower-placed opponents often lacked gloss on the final ball.
Victory were outplayed in attack: Carl Valeri contested for the ball by Newcastle's Morten Nordstrand.Credit: Ashley Feder
Not that the Jets were afraid to have a crack from outside the box, taking shot after shot that failed to find the target, one way or another.
Amid countless turnovers, the closest the hosts came before the break was when Nick Ansell, retained in Victory's central defence despite James Donachie's return from suspension, stretched out a toe to clear a Jason Hoffman cross from the path of an on-rushing Morten Nordstrand but nearly diverted the ball into his own net.
Victory failed to penetrate and, try as the effervescent James Troisi did to ignite something, the Jets rarely found themselves under real pressure.
How the hosts didn't bury a second-half winner beggared belief.
Leap of faith: Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas grabs the ball.Credit: Tony Feder
Hoole, who'd pleased the sparse crowd with a cute pirouette to swindle three defenders, had the game's best opportunity when he was set up by Andrew Nabbout and drew a fine save from Lawrence Thomas before he sent a volley wide of a beckoning open goal.
By the time Daniel Georgievski hit the woodwork against the run of play, and a sliding Nigel Boogaard dispossessed Besart Berisha in the box, there was a feeling of highway robbery about the final 15 minutes.
James Troisi of the Victory grimaces in pain during the game.Credit: Tony Feder
But though the hosts endured a nervy end – including an unsuccessful Victory penalty shout and a fumble from goalkeeper Jack Duncan – they held Victory to their ninth winless game in 10 outings at the venue.
AAP
Victory's Nicholas Ansell gets a yellow card.Credit: Ashley Feder