The much-maligned front man converted from the penalty spot in the 48th minute and then provided a clinical finish in the 71st to take his season tally to eight.

Bruno Fornaroli pulled a goal back in the 80th minute but it was too little too late for the visitors, who played the final 26 minutes with 10 men after Jacob Melling was given a straight red card. 

The win was the Jets’ third at home this season and moved them to 19 points, eight adrift of sixth-placed Adelaide. The tally is two more points than the 17 they earned last season.

The Jets have been on the wrong end of a number of 50-50 decisions by referees in recent weeks but they benefitted from two contentious calls on Sunday.

The first was the penalty. Jason Hoffman fired a shot which cannoned into the elbow of Jack Clisby, who had turned his back on the attempt, but referee Adam Fielding had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Trifunovic did the rest, calmly sending Thomas Sorensen the wrong way from the spot.

Then the  visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute when Jacob Melling was given a straight red card for a shove in the back on replacement Jets striker Morten Nordstrand. There was little malice in the challenge but he was the last defender.

City had scored 13 goals in four games leading into the clash but they were held by a resolute Jets defence. The visitors had 54 per cent of possession but only fashioned four shots on target.

Any concerns over where the Jets’ goals would come from after the departure of David Carney to Sydney FC this week were allayed.

They crafted 17 shots of which 13 were from inside the box.

Brazilian Leonardo was outstanding before replaced in the 62nd minute and Steven Ugarkovic and Enver Alivodic were also strong.

Ugarkovic made his starting debut in midfield for the Jets at the expense of Cameron Watson and Nigel Boogaard returned from suspension for Lachlan Jackson in the heart of defence . Mitch Cooper was a late addition to the eleven after Ryan Kitto injured his back in the warm up.

Aaron Mooy and Fornaroli each scored a brace to lead City to a 4-0 thrashing of the Jets at Hunter Stadium in round nine.

The dynamic duo were well contained in a scoreless first half.

The Uruguyan had one half chance when he turned past three defenders but was otherwise closed down.

The Jets had the three best clear cut chance of the half.

A Jason Hoffman cross skimmed off the head of Milos Trifunovic in the fourth minute, Enever Alivodic had a shot tipped over the crossbar by Sorensen in the 20th and Mitch Cooper  scuffed a half volley in the 25th.

The visitors had 57 per cent of possession in the opening 45 minutes but rarely penetrated. Mooy’s frustration was clear just beore half-time when he blasted a long range effort which flew high and landed on the southern hill.

With David Carney gone, Leonardo, who started for a second straight game, pulled the strings in midfield.

The Jets began the second half in similar vein and took the lead in the 47th minute through Trifunovic.

The goal was a fillip for the home side. All of a sudden they were full of running.

Trifunovic forced a save from Sorensen, Ugarkovic had a volley whiz past the right post, Alivodic stabbed past the left post.

Seven minmutes after Melling’s send off, the Jets doubled the margin.

Enver Alivodic released Morten Nordstarnd, who played a perfectly weight pass in behind for Trifunovic to slot home.

Just as the Jets appeared to be in cruise mode City hit back.

Replacement Nick Fitzgerald floated a cross from the right for Fornalroli who had slipped between Jason Hoffman and Daniel Mullen and headed into the left corner for his 15th goal of the campaign.