Cellar-dwellers the Wellington Phoenix capitalised on two mix-ups and an undermanned defence to shock second-placed Newcastle 3-2 in their A-League match across the Tasman.
Phoenix's Matthew Ridenton. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Jets applied the early pressure but were down 2-0 at halftime in the round-17 game after two forgettable moments for returning goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
Duncan, back from a foot injury, was a late replacement in the starting side after Glen Moss hurt his hip in the warm-up.
The 24-year-old was left red-faced in the 28th minute when misreading a ball in from Serbian midfielder Matija Ljujic.
The Phoenix's Michael McGlinchey made a run into the box and Duncan was left wrong-footed for Ljujic to score.
Former Jet Daniel Mullen scored in the 36th with a header off a Matthew Ridenton corner, while Duncan was blocked by his own defender.
Newcastle pulled one back in the 48th minute when Patricio Rodriguez's back-heel put Daniel Georgievski into space before he found an unmarked Andrew Nabbout for the finish.
However, with Jets centre-back and skipper Nigel Boogaard off the pitch for treatment to a head gash, the Phoenix were two ahead again in the 58th minute when Roy Krishna scored off a Nathan Burns cutback.
Dimi Petratos scored from the spot in the 86th after substitute Angus Thurgate was fouled to give the hosts hope. Referee Jarred Gillett reviewed the penalty call and Marco Rossi was shown to commit the slightest of shirt tugs.
There was injury-time drama when Thurgate went down in the box after contact with Andrew Durante but Gillett waved away penalty calls before the VAR stuck with the on-field decision.
Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic was pleased with the performance and the proactive impact of January recruits Nathan Burns and Matija Ljujic, who started for the first time against Newcastle.
"We played really solid from the beginning," Kalezic said.
"I have to say they created a couple of chances in the first half but we came through without any damage from that period and then we wait for where the weakness of Newcastle was and we were looking to punish them from that point and that's what we did."
The Jets, going for a club record fifth-consecutive home win, will retain second on 33 points. The Phoenix move to 14 but remain last.
AAP
