Perth Glory have suffered a second-straight Hyundai A-League loss, falling 2-0 to the Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday.
Perth Glory have suffered a second-straight Hyundai A-League loss, falling 2-0 to the Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday.
Glory tried hard but failed to break down a solid Jets defence, as Jeremy Brockie’s quick-fire brace helped the hosts move into second spot on the table.
Brockie struck twice in the opening 11 minutes, beating Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic with two clinical finishes.
Glory coach Ian Ferguson made one change to the side that suffered a 2-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners, bringing in Joshua Risdon at right back in place of the injured Scott Neville.
English striker Francis Jeffers was named up front for the Jets after getting his visa clearance during the week, with midfielder Ben Kantarovski making way because of injury.
It was Gary van Egmond’s men who made the faster start and Brockie produced two superb finishes to put them ahead.
Jets captain Jobe Wheelhouse picked out Brockie’s run down the right, and the 24-time New Zealand international whacked his shot across Vukovic and into the top corner on 10 minutes.
He had a brace barely a minute later, this time with a finish of even higher quality.
Kasey Wehrman’s lofted pass found Brockie on the right and, after chipping his first touch over centre-back Bas van den Brink, he smashed a volley low and hard to make it 2-0.
It took 21 minutes for Glory to test Ben Kennedy, but Billy Mehmet scuffed his left-footed effort and gave the shot-stopper a simple save after Nikolai Topor-Stanley had given away possession cheaply.
The visitors held more possession after the two early blows, but struggled to create chances.
Ferguson made two changes at half-time with Brazilian winger Andrezinho and Josh Mitchell coming on for Mehmet and Todd Howarth respectively.
The changes and half-time address worked as the Glory came out with more energy and attacking intent.
Yet, it was Jeffers who almost got on the scoresheet on his return after a Wehrman through ball, but Vukovic pulled off a fine diving save to keep Glory in the contest.
Glory had their best chance soon after when star striker Shane Smeltz almost netted for the fourth time this campaign, only to see his dipping shot from the edge of the area crash off the crossbar.
Both teams continued to attack and Vukovic denied Wheelhouse in a one-on-one after another Wehrman through ball, while midfielder Liam Miller flashed a shot wide with 20 minutes to play.
Miller and Smeltz were beginning to work their ways into the game and the latter headed wide on 77 minutes.
But, despite their late efforts, that was the last of the good chances for Glory as they slipped to third ahead of their meeting with Sydney next Saturday.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Brockie 10, 11)
Perth Glory 0
