Newcastle Jets Break Longstanding Curse as 23-Year-Old Returns from Four-Year Hiatus

The Newcastle Jets marked their first home victory of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season with an impressive 3-0 triumph over Melbourne Victory.

Ending a long-standing dry spell at McDonald Jones Stadium since April 2024, the Jets finally claimed all three points thanks to goals from Kosta Grozos, Clayton Taylor, and Lachie Rose during Saturday evening’s match.

Grozos put the Jets ahead by converting a penalty in the 99th minute after VAR confirmed a foul by Mitch Langerak on Lachie Rose. Late goals from Taylor and Rose ensured a comfortable win in the Hunter region, which experienced a brief stoppage due to a medical emergency in the stands.

Jets goalkeeper Noah James, who has been part of the club since he was 12, gave a standout performance, making his first appearance of the season and his first since debuting in the A-Leagues in 2020, with Ryan Scott relegated to the bench.

The stunning victory ended a four-match winless streak, leaving Newcastle with 15 points from 15 matches, still nine points shy of breaking into the top six, while fourth-placed Victory.

Despite dominating the first half, Victory went into the break without a goal to their name.

The visitors struggled to breach the Jets’ defence with James making several key saves to keep the score level at half-time.

Victory maintained offensive pressure but could not capitalise, while the Jets saw a goal disallowed in the 33rd minute for offside after Thomas Aquilina’s strike.

Newcastle threatened again in the second half when Lachie Rose’s effort was also ruled out for offside.

The turning point came in the 78th minute when Rose went down inside the box after attempting to get to the ball before Langerak. Following a VAR check, a penalty was awarded, revealing contact between the goalkeeper and the Newcastle forward’s head.

Following a medical emergency in the crowd, Grozos coolly converted the penalty, and five minutes later Taylor increased the tally, confirming the Jets’ win. Rose capped off the evening by adding another goal as Victory’s resistance waned in the final moments.