Melbourne City have consolidated their spot in the top six with a thumping 5-2 win over the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.
City dominated from start to finish, going three goals up after just 23 minutes with international marquee Robert Koren scoring a hat-trick in just his third appearance and first start for the club.
The win extends City’s unbeaten run to four games in what has been a fantastic change in form and an ominous warning to the rest of the competition.
City opened the scoring in just the fourth minute through a penalty from Aaron Mooy.
Damien Duff set up the spot kick with a great run into the box before being brought down by Allan Welsh, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The in-form Mooy then calmly slotted the penalty into the right corner of the net, sending Jets’ ‘keeper Ben Kennedy the wrong way.
It wasn’t long before the visitors doubled their.
Mooy was again involved in the build up, this time releasing former Jets player James Brown on the wing, whose delivery fortuitously bounced off the leg of Newcastle defender Adrian Madaschi into the path of Koren.
The Slovenian then expertly finished first time over the shoulder of Kennedy.
Newcastle appeared completely rattled in the early stages of the match and Melbourne punished the Jets’ poor defending with some fluent counter attacking play
Duff then capped off the Jets’ absolutely disastrous start when he added a third goal in the 23rd minute.
Kisnorbo’s header from an Aaron Mooy corner was blocked on the line, before the City captain laid off the rebounding ball for Duff, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner for the third goal of the game, and Duff’s first for his new club.
The ever-reliable David Carney tried his best to reduce the deficit and restore some pride for the besieged home side, twice trying to run around multiple defenders on route to goal.
Melbourne City surprisingly finished the first half with only 43% of possession as the Jets tried to fight their way back into the game, however the away side was was clinical in front of goal, scoring their three goals from their only three shots on target in the first half.
The Jets’ afternoon deteriorated just over 15 minutes into the second half when Koren added his name to the score sheet for a second time.
A cheap turnover in midfield allowed City to stream forward, and Williams played through Duff on the near side, who crossed to Koren at the far post for an easy tap in.
For all of City’s dominance, there were late defensive lapses, which will no doubt anger van’t Schip.
Newcastle made it 4-1 in the 70th minute with Edson Montano heading home after a headed flick on from Joel Griffiths.
Koren then scored perhaps his most impressive goal of the game to complete his hat-trick just three minutes later.
Mate Dugandzic ran into the box before cutting back inside to Koren who blasted the ball into the back of the net.
The Slovenian’s hat-trick was just the second hat-trick in the history of Melbourne Heart/City, with the only other going to David Williams.
However the Jets did claim another consolation just five minutes later when Jeronimo Neumann scored through the legs of City goal keeper Tando Velapi after some scrappy defending.
It proved to be last goal of the afternoon, and City recorded only their fourth away win in the last 32 matches away from home.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Montano 71′, Jeronimo 79′) defeated by Melbourne City 5 (Mooy (p) 4′, Koren 9′ 63′ 74′, Duff 24′) at Hunter Stadium
Newcastle Jets: 20. Ben KENNEDY (GK), 2. Scott NEVILLE (16. Jacob PEPPER 67′), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6. Adrian MADASCHI (7. Jeronimo NEUMANN 61′), 8. Zenon CARAVELLA, 9. Joel GRIFFITHS, 11. Andrew HOOLE, 13. Edson MONTANO, 17. James VIRGILI (4. Kew JALIENS 45′), 18. Allan WELSH, 23. David CARNEY
Unused Substitutes: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 19. Mitch COOPER
Yellow Cards: Virgili 20′, Griffiths 26′
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 20. Tando VELAPHI (GK), 3. Robbie WIELAERT, 4. Connor CHAPMAN, 5. Erik PAARTALU, 6. Aaron MOOY, 10. Robi KOREN (7. Iain RAMSAY 75′), 11. Damien DUFF, 14. James BROWN (23. Mate DUGANDZIC 64′), 19. Ben GARUCCIO, 24. Patrick KISNORBO, 25. Jacob MELLING (15. David WILLIAMS 55′)
Unused Subs: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 27. Ross ARCHIBALD
Yellow Cards: Melling 13′, Duff 58′, Paartalu 76′
Red Cards: None