BESART Berisha became the A-League’s all-time leading goal-scorer as the Melbourne Victory notched a controversial 4-2 win over the Newcastle Jets at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Monday night.
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Berisha, who began the match level with former teammate Archie Thompson on 90 goals, converted from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after John Kourtroumbis was judged to have used his arm to block a cross. Replays showed the ball had made contact with the defender’s shoulder.
The game had been on an even keel until that point.
Marcos Rojas added a second goal five minutes later. Fahid Ben Khalfallah made it 3-0 in the 60th minute. Jets replacement Ma Leilei pulled a goal back in the 61st minute. James Troisi restored the three-goal buffer in 68th minute. The Jets refused to lie down and were rewarded with stand-in skipper Wayne Brown having a shot deflect in off his opposite Carl Valeri in the 76th minute.
Jet coach Mark Jones had not doubts the penalty had turned the match.
“For the first 30 minutes we were in the game before a contentious penalty goes against us,” he said. “That turned the game. We go in at half-time 2-0 down when we were competing as well if not better than Victory.”
The Jets had three handball decisions go against them.
Andrew Hoole was ruled to have got a touch in the first half when about to break away. Then in the 58th referee Chris Beath missed a clear handball in the box from Valeri on a shot from Ma.
The Jets finished the stronger, but in the end, they couldn’t match the power and precision of the home side.
The loss ended a three-game unbeaten streak and dropped them to seventh. Victory remain second, seven points behind leaders Sydney.
The home side had manufactured one shot before the decision against Koutroumbis. Fahid Ben Khalfallah sent a cross in from the right. The rookie was well positioned and chested the ball down, but Beath pointed to the spot. Keepeer Jack Duncan went the right way but Berisha’s shot was too strong.
Five minutes later, Berisha played Troisi into space and he delivered a stinging cross for Rojas to knock in.
The drama didn’t end with the handballs. Victory assistant coach Jean-Paul De Marigny was sent into the stands after an exchange with the fourth official.
In need of a spark, Mark Jones introduced Ma in the 55th minute for Andrew Nabbout and the Chinese winger delivered, wriggling past two defender and steering a low shot into the right corner.