In-form Newcastle Jets striker Lachlan Rose scored for the third consecutive game to help his side to a shock 2-1 win over Adelaide United on Saturday night.
January Jets signing Kota Mizunuma notched his third assist in his fourth game for the club, teeing up Rose for the second time in as many games to put the Jets on top at Coopers Stadium.
Adelaide midfielder Stefan Mauk equalised on the stroke of half-time but 10 minutes into the second half, Clayton Taylor restored Newcastle’s lead with the final goal of the contest.
Newcastle have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season and are unbeaten in four games as Rob Stanton’s side begin to build momentum heading into the back end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Adelaide, meanwhile, have dropped off the pace in the race for the Premiers Plate after league-leaders Auckland FC defeated Western United 2-0 earlier on Saturday. The Reds now sit five points behind the Black Knights, and remain three points clear of Melbourne Victory in third.
In just his second start of the season, Rose looked dangerous from the outset for the Jets and almost opened the scoring in the third minute of play.
Down the other end, Archie Goodwin looked to find the back of the net against his former side and on current form, should have done exactly that when he was picked out on the edge of the six-yard box by a dangerous Dylan Pierias cross.
Goodwin failed to make proper connection with the ball with his left foot as a glorious chance went begging for the young Adelaide striker.
Adelaide came unstuck in the 37th minute when Kota Mizunuma put the ball on a plate for Rose to head the Jets into an unlikely lead.
Mizunuma only joined the club in January but the experienced Japanese winger already has three assists to his name – two of which have been for Rose, who now has three goals in three games as he enjoys a purple patch of form.
But the Jets failed to keep their lead to half-time as the home side answered back through a clinical Mauk finish.
A cross from Peirias was intercepted by Mark Natta, but Mauk controlled the Newcastle defender’s header on the penalty spot. The Reds matchday captain blasted the ball past Jets keeper Noah James with his second touch to ensure his side got to the break on level terms.
With parity restored at half-time, Adelaide were in the box seat to ride the momentum of a revitalised home crowd and push to take the lead – but just 10 minutes after the restart, Taylor put Newcastle back on top with a goal that sucked the life out of Coopers Stadium.
The Jets midfielder took a heavy touch past Reds defender Bart Vriends on the halfway line to create space to drive down the left wing and, having dribbled into the penalty area, beat Cox with a shot which the Reds keeper should have done better to keep out of his net.
Looking to inspire his side back into the contest, Mauk received a glorious chance to double his tally for the night when he pounced on a cutback cross in the box – but the clinical touch he showed in the first half evaded him in the crucial moment as his scuffed shot went wide of the mark.
Adelaide head coach Carl Veart brought young forwards Amlani Tatu and Harry Crawford off the bench for their respective Isuzu UTE A-League debuts and 16-year-old Tatu had two half-chances to equalise for the hosts but a second goal wasn’t to come for the hosts as Newcastle took all three points for the second consecutive game.
