Jets cop 5-0 Sha-lacking at the Dome

ARCHIE THOMPSON inspired the Melbourne Victory to a 5-0 drubbing against the awful Newcastle Jets last night at the Telstra Dome.

Thompson was playing his first game of the A-League season since being injured playing at the Beijing Olympics. He helped set up two goals and scored one himself to help the Victory to a 3-0 lead.DannyAllsopp took his season tally to four goals by scoring a strikers double within 5 minutes while Carlos Hernandez and Grant Brebner rounded off the 5-0 demolition.

The Victory looked the goods in their first home game of the season with this exhibition style play and have now scored 9 goals in just two games.

Ernie Merrick decided to bring on Thompson in just the 24th minute when defender Michael Thwaite limped off with an injury. It was a masterstroke move that changed the game in favour of the Victorians.

Defender Roddy Vargas could have opened the scoring in the 25th minute when his header was cleared off the line and Covic was fortunate to have saved from an Allsopp thunderbolt in the 33rd minute.

After some heavy pressure, Hernandez finally opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he was given an assisted through ball from Thompson.

Archie helped himself to his first of the season when Covic’s goalkick went straight to Fabiano. He then slid the ball past North into the path of Thompson who slotted away easily.

Archie’s non-stop running payed even more dividends when he embarrassed the disappointing North. He stole the ball from the “not-with-it” Jade North, took it to the by-line and slid it across the face of goal for Allsopp who had the easiest of tap ins.

Allsopp got his second just 3 minutes later when he broke the offside trap to chest down a chipped through ball from Fabiano and slid it past the Novacastrian glovesman.

Brebner rounded off the 5-0 spanking with his very first touch after being subbed on the in the 89th minute. He half volleyed a cleared punch from Covic from the edge of the 16-yard box. His shot found its way through a maze of people to nestle itself into the bottom right corner.

Coach Van Egmond will have to sort out his defence in quick time as the Jets are scheduled to meet Sydney FC in just 2-weeks time.

Published on August 30, 2008