Western Sydney Wanderers 1 Newcastle Jets 2
Heads up ... Dominik Ritter wins a high ball during the Newcastle Jets' come-from-behind victory against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images
SYDNEY'S Italian star Alessandro Del Piero might be stealing the limelight, but Newcastle's marquee player Emile Heskey made his significant presence felt - again - on Saturday when a trademark deft touch against the Western Sydney Wanderers made him the A-League's leading goal scorer.
The popular Englishman, who played 516 Premier League matches during a 17-year career, capitalised on some tremendous lead-up work in the 37th minute when James Brown put talented youngster Craig Goodwin into space.
Goodwin, who is considered one of the brightest young talents in the league, did everything right as his well-placed left-footer found the always-threatening Heskey.
Match winner ... Emile Heskey celebrates. Photo: Getty Images
He seemed to have all the time in the world to nudge the ball past the Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic despite his desperate attempt to stop the ball.
It was typical of Heskey's previous four goals for the Jets. He didn't have to move too far - the sign of a man who knows where to position himself - and he was cucumber-cool when it mattered.
His goal gave Newcastle a 2-1 lead after the Wanderers seized an opportunity in the 15th minute when Youssouf Hersi and Shinji Ono combined beautifully to put Joey Gibbs in a one-on-one scenario.
He didn't miss, but Newcastle responded in the 28th minute through Ryan Griffiths. Scott Neville crossed the ball and Griffiths - to the dismay of the fanatical Wanderers supporters camped behind the goal - scored the equaliser after the ball hit the post.
The Wanderers showed why Parramatta Stadium is fast becoming known as ''Wander-Land'' with their red and black army chanting, cheering, banging drums and singing throughout the match.
And they had good reason to be in full voice after the break when their team responded to the challenge with some strong, attacking football. It was desperate, frenetic stuff as they constantly pressured the Jets defence.
In the 56th minute, Gibbs charged towards the goal and had a strong shot, but it sailed wide. The collective groan would have been heard in neighbouring Harris Park.
In the 66th minute, the Jets Tiago Calvano was booked for wasting time when he kicked the ball away. The crowd of 9011 loved it, and their team maintained the rage.
Four minutes later, Ono had a crack. The shot was straight and true but Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti was equal to the task.
The crowd was relentless with its cheering and in the 79th minute Aaron Mooy's free kick, which sailed over the mass of players, looked promising but did not hit home.
The Wanderers dominated possession and, in the 84th minute, Newcastle's Jacob Pepper was booked one minute after joining the match for wasting time. It was silly and only ''bettered'' by his foul on Ono four minutes later which earned him a red card.
With the Jets down a man, the Wanderers lifted a gear. However, Birighitti was outstanding. He repelled several attempts on goal to deny the Wanderers a point.
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