The Newcastle Jets have virtually secured a Hyundai A-League semi-final berth with a tough 2-1 win over a 10-man Adelaide United outfit at Energy Australia Stadium on Friday night.

First-half goals to Jets striker Joel Griffiths and Adelaide's Lucas Pantelis saw the scores locked at 1-1 before Reds midfielder Fabian Barbiero was sent from the field for his second bookable offence just before half-time.

The undermanned Reds, who went into the match in fifth place and needing a win to jump over the Jets in fourth place, fought on gamely in the second half but a 72nd-minute header to teenager James Holland secured the crucial win for the home side.

The hard-fought victory keeps Newcastle in fourth place on the ladder on 28 points, five ahead of Adelaide, with two rounds left to play before the finals.

Sydney FC has continued its charge towards the Hyundai A-League premiership with a solid 2-0 win over Wellington at Westpac Stadium on Friday night.

Two late goals in a hectic five-minute spell were enough to secure the vital three points.

Newcastle Jets 2 (Joel Griffiths 12, Holland 72)
Adelaide United 1 (Pantelis 40)
Crowd: 13,047 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle.

Sydney joins Queensland and Central Coast on 30 points at the head of the table, however the Roar and Mariners will look to re-establish the buffer zone in clashes this weekend.

Terry McFlynn opened the scoring in the 79th minute with a cheeky backheel in his 50th appearance before Alex Brosque doubled the lead just four minutes later.

Both teams battled hard during the first half, not wanting to hand the opposition the ball and control of the game.

The Phoenix, driven on by their passionate home crowd of 14,288, were unable to unlock a stubborn and resolute Sydney defensive line, while the visitors looked the better of the two sides in the final third, but were also unable to penetrate the home side’s back three.

Sportal