KEY POINTS:
Newcastle 2
Phoenix 1
Ricki Herbert's quick transtasman trip was in vain as he watched his Wellington Phoenix side succumb to the Newcastle Jets last night.
The under-strength Phoenix struggled early, again fell a goal behind and rarely threatened to pull back the two-goal lead the home side had claimed by halftime at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
With his All Whites back in Auckland on a rest day and preparing for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Fiji, Herbert gave starts to Vince Lia and Cleberson who was at right back.
From the outset, the home side targeted the Brazilian defender as they mounted attack after attack and were eventually rewarded when Joel Griffiths got clear to gather a good ball from Noel Spencer, before pushing a square pass to debutante James Holland who whipped home a shot just inside the right upright which gave goalkeeper Glen Moss no chance.
From the restart the Phoenix broke quickly, found Michael Ferrante who, and not for the first time this season, squandered a golden chance to equalise. It was little surprise Herbert decided not to send him out for the second spell, instead opting for marquee signing Ahmad Elrich's first outing, coincidently against his younger brother Tarek for the first time in their careers.
It was Elrich junior who set up the second goal when he played a ball straight at the heart of the Phoenix defence and into the path of Joel Griffiths who made no mistake for 2-0.
Perhaps the turning point of the match came seven minutes after the break when Vaughan Coveny charged on to a through ball only to be brought down by Jets defender Stephen Laybutt who should have been ruled as the last defender.
Referee Ben Williams opted for the soft option, handing out a yellow rather than red card in awarding the free kick.
The Phoenix continued to press - they forced six corners to one in the second spell (and nine to four overall) but lacked real assertiveness in front of goal and barely tested goalkeeper Ante Covic as they searched for a miracle comeback.
There was a late consolation for the Phoenix with Steven Old scoring from a goalmouth scramble. Neither side knew whether the goal had been scored, as the referee was also blowing the whistle for fulltime, but officials later confirmed it.
The Phoenix play A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners next Sunday at home.
