But it was the horrific injury to goalie Mark Birighitti that left a bad taste in the mouth of Jets coach Scott Miller. Miller criticised Sydney striker Shane Smeltz for a challenge that had Birighitti  lose several teeth before he was rushed to hospital. 

‘‘There’s a borderline competitive side to a football match and then there’s outrageous and reckless,’’ Miller said.

‘‘That’s nothing short of an outrageous challenge.’’

Brosque’s 88th-minute goal capped a disappointing afternoon for the Jets, who were backed by a crowd of 12,173 in their first home game of the season.

Newcastle never really got going against last season’s grand finalists, with Sydney dominating possession and creating the more threatening moments.

The Jets were unlucky to be denied what seemed a fair goal when Jason Hoffman found the net with a looping header in the 36th minute.

Hoffman was judged to be offside, but television replays showed him to be clearly behind the last defender.

From that point on, Newcastle struggled to create any clear chances as Sydney’s grip on the match tightened. Brosque looked menacing in the dying stages of the match, and saw a low shot of his – having beaten sub keeper Ben Kennedy – rebounded off the post  in the 85th minute.

However, the Sky Blues’ skipper wasn’t to be denied a second time when he was found unmarked from a corner.

Brosque punished some sloppy defending with a sharp header that squeezed past Kennedy at his near post.

The Jets pushed for an equaliser in the final minutes but failed to find that crucial goal.

Newcastle will look to return to the winners’ circle when they host an in-form Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.