SYDNEY: England striker Emile Heskey scored his seventh A-League goal but was trumped by two Marco Rojas strikes as Melbourne Victory beat spirited Newcastle Jets 3-2 on Friday to close in on the A-League top two.

Victory squandered a two-goal lead as the Jets fought back through a Heskey goal to level at 2-2 with 17 minutes left.

But just 60 seconds after Heskey’s equalizer, New Zealander Rojas produced a dazzling winning goal, controlling a ball in the box, spinning and lashing home.

After league leaders Central Coast and second-placed Adelaide United both lost this week, Victory have now climbed to outright third, just two points adrift of Adelaide.

Former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton sealed a 1-0 win for Alessandro Del Piero’s Sydney FC over competition leaders Central Coast.

Emerton’s 89th-minute header secured the three points to lift the Sky Blues off the bottom of the ladder into ninth place.

Brazilian Henrique breathed life into Brisbane’s flagging season with the winner in a 1-0 away triumph against Adelaide United on Wednesday.

Henrique’s 65th minute goal delivered Brisbane a fourth win of the season as Adelaide lost consecutive games.

Perth Glory substitute Nick Ward scored an 87th-minute strike to secure a 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers in sweltering Perth on Thursday.

The Wanderers had appeared headed for their fourth straight win after Labinot Haliti’s 38th-minute strike gave them the lead against the run of play.

Wellington Phoenix fought back from a two-goal deficit to steal a 3-2 victory over Melbourne Heart in New Zealand.