WESTERN United coach John Aloisi has lauded the work of two of his defensive stalwarts in their 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon at Mars Stadium.<\/p>\n
Though his side were forced into a rearguard action by the fast-finishing Jets, a pair of headers from Swiss defender Leo Lacroix proved enough for United to take all three points in Ballarat and move back to the top of the ALM table.<\/p>\n
The win put the Green and Black three points clear of Melbourne City with a game in hand, the victory also stretched United’s club-record run of games without defeat to eight.<\/p>\n
Lacroix opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he darted in front of a pack of Jets defenders to head a Ben Garuccio corner home.<\/p>\n
He completed his brace in the 52nd when he capitalised on a Matthew Jurman error to pop up and convert from another corner.<\/p>\n
They were the first goals that the 30-year-old had scored since he netted against Duisburg while playing for Hamburg in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga 1021 days ago.<\/p>\n
“He was very good. Really good,” Alosi said. “He’s a centre back, so we have to make sure that he does his job first as a centre back.<\/p>\n
“Not only without the ball but with the ball in helping us with our build-up. But he was comfortable.”<\/p>\n
Aloisi also paid tribute to defender Tomoki Imai, who put in a trademark unheralded yet standout performance at right-back in his 50th ALM game for United.<\/p>\n
“[Imai’s] great to have around the group,” Alosi said. “His values are all that we want as a football club.<\/p>\n
“He works hard every day. He’s together with the group whether he plays or doesn’t play. I couldn’t ask for a better professional than Tomoki.”<\/p>\n
The loss, meanwhile, prevented the Jets from moving into the top six for the first time this season.<\/p>\n
Consistently let down by their final ball against the league’s best deference, the Jets finally began a late push in the 81st minute when Dylan Murnane knocked Daniel Penha’s cross back across the face of goal for Angus Thurgate to tap in.<\/p>\n
“I think we did [play well] for periods and the game was decided by set-pieces,” Jets coach Arthur Papas said.<\/p>\n
“It’s not decided because we were getting opened up in open play. But we need to defend better on our set-pieces. That’s the difference in the whole game.”<\/p>\n
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