Newcastle Jets have seen their unbeaten start to the National Youth League come to an end, suffering a 3-1 loss to Melbourne Heart at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday.
Newcastle Jets have seen their unbeaten start to the National Youth League come to an end, suffering a 3-1 loss to Melbourne Heart at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday.
Heart were the better of the teams throughout the encounter and standout performances from Billy Liolios and Hyundai A-League option Kristian Sarkies helped them to a second-straight win.
Jets forward Labinot Haliti canceled out Dutchman Rutger Worm’s early header, before Heart struck twice after the hour mark.
Substitutes Josh Groenewald and Zac Walker netted, while the visitors had defender Mario Simic sent off.
Heart made a superb start, opening the scoring barely 75 seconds into the contest thanks to Worm’s header.
The Dutchman, on the mend from a groin injury, was left unmarked and nodded in a Sarkies free-kick.
Heart enjoyed more of the possession in the early exchanges, but the Jets hit back thanks to Haliti, who was out to impress as he looks to earn a recall to the senior side.
Involved to start the move, Haliti got on the end of a cross from Andrew Hoole to tap in the equaliser in the 23rd minute.
Ever-present Heart striker Stipo Andrijasevic should have put his side ahead before the break, but he struck Craig Goodwin’s pinpoint cross wide.
At the other end, Haliti could have had a double when he intercepted Heart centre-back Adrian Madaschi’s under-hit effort to Sebastian Mattei, but the goalkeeper recovered well to save.
It was a much tighter start to the second half, with Sarkies putting a 30-yard free-kick wide and Haliti forcing Mattei into a strong save.
Heart did eventually restore their lead just after the hour mark through Groenewald.
Sarkies, whose set pieces had provided a constant threat, put in a fine corner for Groenewald to head in on 64 minutes.
Jets’ Simic saw red soon after, picking up two yellow cards in the space of 10 seconds after fouling Heart captain Goodwin, who had launched a counter-attack for his side.
Heart made the most of their numerical advantage as playmaker Liolios beat off two markers before playing a delightful through ball to Walker, who finished superbly into the bottom corner for his second goal of the campaign.
Melbourne Heart 3 (Rutger Worm 2, Josh Groenewald 64, Walker 74)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Labinot Haliti 23)
