Melbourne Victory have suffered their third consecutive defeat of the W-League season, losing 1-0 to Newcastle Jets at ABD Stadium on Saturday.
With the contest heading into the break scoreless, Chloe Logarzo broke the deadlock on the brink of the half-time.
While Melissa Barbieri prevented the deficit from doubling after the break with a brilliant penalty save, her side was unable to find a way past their opponents’ back four.
Victory got the contest’s first shot off in anger, when Christine Nairn fired in a set-piece that missed just wide of the near post.
Up the other end, Newcastle thought they had found their way in on goal, but Jenna Kingsley hit the upright while being flagged for offside.
Another returning international, Hayley Raso, was a danger on the right wing, and almost connected successfully to a cross from Briar Palmer from the opposite wing, but volleyed over the bar.
A turnover in Victory’s defensive third almost proved costly when Cassidy Davis was teed up for a long shot that took a deflection for a corner.
Barbieri had to be on her guard from the resultant set piece, dealing with a Tara Andrew shot from point blank range after Capryce Dydasco headed a bobbling ball back in the box.
Newcastle’s late pressure paid dividends when Dobson cut the ball back in from the left wing, with Logarzo’s shot trickling over the line despite the keeper’s touch.
The hosts came out with intent after the break, as a Nairn set piece agonisingly missing an outstretched Jamie Pollock at the back post.
It almost all unraveled just a minute later when Thea Slatyer was penalised for dragging down Logarzo in the box, though Barbieri was on hand to deny the latter a brace with a fine save to her right.
Victory huffed and puffed thereafter but couldn’t find the decisive ball to trouble Jets’ keeper Hannah Southwell.
The visitors again looked most likely to score when Andrews and Dobson and combined for a one-two that ended in latter hitting the side netting.
With less than half an hour remaining the hosts found their feet and fashioned a flurry of chances via set pieces, with a shot from Martin following a corner swatted away by Southwell, before Slatyer’s header from another corner situation bouncing off the crossbar.
The speedy Raso then found herself in a one-on-one situation with the keeper after a Barbieri clearance evaded everybody, but slipped at a crucial moment and the chance went begging.
That was one of the last clear cut chances of the game, and to rub salt into Victory’s wound, both her and Jamie Pollock were forced off with injuries late as Victory slumped to another defeat to begin the season.
***
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne Victory 0 defeated by Newcastle Jets 1 (Lozardo 45+2’) at ABD Stadium [HT: 0-1]
Melbourne Victory: 20. Melissa BARBIERI (GK, c), 2. Alex NATOLI, 5. Briar PALMER, 6. Annabel MARTIN, 7. Enza BARILLA, 8. Jamie Pollock (16. Cindy LAY 79’), 9. Laura SPIRANOVIC, 10. Christine NAIRN, 13. Thea SLATYER, 16. Hayley RASO (11. MelindaJ BARBIERI 85’), 18. Jessica PITTS
Unused Substitute(s): 1. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK), 4. Melissa TARANTO,
Yellow Card(s): Slatyer 50’, Lay 80’
Red Card(s): Nil
Newcastle Jets: 1. Hannah SOUTHWELL (GK), 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Megan OYSTER, 5. Caprice DYDASCO, 6. Cassidy DAVIS, 7. Gema SIMON (c), 9. Tara ANDREWS (8. Kobie FERGUSON 90+4’), 10. Rhali DOBSON, 12. Chloe LOGARZO (18. Clare WHEELER 65’), 17. Jenna KINGSLEY (2. Sophie NENADOVIC 65’), 19. Hannah BROMLEY
Unused Substitute(s): 20. Claire COELHO (GK),
Yellow Card(s): Yeoman-Dale 21’, Davis 28’, Simon 48’, Bromley 66’
Red Card(s): Nil