MELBOURNE: Former England striker Emile Heskey rescued a point for the Newcastle Jets in a 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix on Sunday as the Central Coast Mariners extended their lead in Australia’s A-League.
Heskey powered home a goalmouth header for his eighth goal of the season with 16 minutes left as the Jets fought back after going behind to a Louis Fenton first-half goal.
The Jets climbed to fifth spot with the Phoenix remaining at the bottom of the A-League after 18 rounds.
The Mariners increased their lead to five points with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Adelaide United at home on Friday.
Striker Mitchell Duke came off the bench to score twice in the second half to turn around the top-of-the-table match for the Mariners.
Midfielder Michael McGlinchey sealed the win with a goal in the 88th minute.
Melbourne Victory moved into second spot following a 3-1 win over Alessandro Del Piero’s Sydney FC in Melbourne on Saturday.
New Zealand winger Marco Rojas was outstanding again before watching scouts from English Premier League club Liverpool and Italian giants Juventus as Sydney finished with nine men.
Second-half efforts from Archie Thompson and Rojas, followed a 24th-minute deflected own goal from Sydney defender Seb Ryall capped a dominant performance from Victory.
Brazilian defenders Tiago Calvano and Fabio were sent off while Italian legend Del Piero was well held by Victory’s midfield.
Japanese star Shinji Ono converted a penalty to give 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers a 1-0 win over Melbourne Heart to climb to third spot on goal difference from Adelaide.
The competition newcomers went a man down when German defender Jerome Polenz was sent off in the 13th minute for bringing down Heart forward David Williams from behind in a goal-scoring position.
Ono’s 73rd-minute penalty for his fifth goal of the season secured the backs-to-the-wall win, after Croatia’s Josip Tadic earlier had a spot kick saved following Polenz’s sending off.
Heskey goal gets Jets draw; Ono penalty winner
Heskey goal gets Jets draw; Ono penalty winner
Neto treble fires Chelsea’s FA Cup rout of Hull
- It was an emotional evening for Blues boss Rosenior
KINGSTON UPON HULL: Chelsea eased into the FA Cup fifth round as Pedro Neto’s hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win at Hull on Liam Rosenior’s return to the club that sacked him two years ago.
Rosenior’s side took the lead through Neto’s superb first-half strike before the Portugal forward netted again after the break.
Estevao Willian scored Chelsea’s third and Neto completed his treble to wrap up the fourth round rout at the MKM Stadium.
It was an emotional evening for Blues boss Rosenior as he faced the club that ruthlessly severed their long relationship with him in 2024.
Rosenior supported Hull as a child alongside his season-ticket holding grandmother, played for the club across five years and managed them for two seasons.
He was sacked after narrowly failing to reach the Championship play-offs amid criticism of his team’s conservative tactics.
Despite the painful end to his time at Hull, the 41-year-old said it was an “amazing thing” to return to Humberside and he took full advantage of the chance to show his old club what they had missed out on.
“This club means a lot not just to me but also my family for many reasons,” Rosenior said.
“I do hope they make the Premier League this year, but because of our attitude and application, that is what gave us the platform to win tonight.”
Rosenior has made an impressive start at Chelsea since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca in January, winning eight out of his first 11 matches in all competitions.
He made seven changes, with Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro among those to miss out, but Chelsea were still too strong for the Championship promotion chasers.
“Pedro Neto has been outstanding, he works so hard and has so much quality. I’m delighted to see him get the goals,” Rosenior said.
“The most pleasing aspect was the mentality. It was a really strong performance in terms of the mental application you need to be successful. Everyone worked really hard for each other.”
Chelsea dominated possession to such an extent that it was little surprise when they finally made the breakthrough in the 40th minute.
Liam Delap teed up Neto and he whipped a superb finish into the corner from 20 yards.
Andrey Santos’ towering header was pushed over by Dillon Phillips after the interval and, from the resulting corner, Chelsea doubled their lead in the 51st minute.
Neto’s inswinger caught Phillips flat-footed at the near post, bouncing through his legs without a touch from either team.
Chelsea had blown a two-goal advantage in their 2-2 draw with Leeds in the Premier League on Tuesday.
But there was no chance of a repeat and Estevao grabbed their third with a composed finish from 12 yards in the 59th minute.
Neto made it four in the 71st minute, caressing a low finish past Phillips from Delap’s lay-off.
Wrexham beat fellow Championship side Ipswich 1-0 in Friday’s other fourth round tie.
The Welsh club, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, are into the last 16 for the first time since 1996-97.
