CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MATCH ACTION

Sydney staked their claim for the last remaining finals spot with an early goal from Bruno Cazarine after just 12 minutes but Michael Bridge levelled the score 15 minutes later.

But Chianese sealed Sydney's place in the top six with a quickfire double, putting Sydney ahead on the 30 minute mark and extending the lead three minutes later to blitz the Jets out the contest.

In the second half, Sydney tried to put the contest out of the Jets' reach and give departing coach Vitzslav Lavicka at least one more game in the A-League before his return to the Czech Republic.

But the Jets pulled out a goal as the full-time whistle approached when Jobe Wheelhouse found the back of the net in a goalmouth scramble with just six minutes left on the clock.

With the renewed Jets needing only a goal for a draw to save their season, the final minutes were an edge of the seat rollercoaster for the 14,494 crowd in a thrilling finish.

In the end though Sydney managed to hold on for the win in a blockbuster dramatic conclusion and claim that last remaining finals spot at Newcastle's expense.

Sydney FC enjoyed a perfect start with the opening goal on 12 minutes. Brett Emerton delivered a pinpoint cross that allowed Bruno Cazarine to duly power home his header from eight metres.

The Jets, having hitherto failed to make any significant progress, appeared to have earned a penalty as Michael Bridges was brought crashing to the earth by Terry McFlynn on the edge of the penalty area, only for the referee to award a free-kick.

Almost immediately, Sydney could have doubled their advantage as Emerton released Karol Kisel but after rounding the goalkeeper the Slovakian saw his square pass narrowly cut out by some desperate defending, with Joel Chianese left unmarked in the centre.

Against the run of play Newcastle turned the momentum of the match on its head following a moment of inspiration from Ruben Zadkovich. The former Sydneysider's powerful running took him past two opponents before a square ball allowed Michael Bridges an easy conversion at the far post to the joy of a healthy contingent of travelling fans.

The lead, however, lasted just three minutes as Pascal Bosschaart sprung the offside trap with a long ball that found Chianese, whose shot took a hefty deflection off the covering Sung Hwan-Byun to leave goalkeeper Ben Kennedy with no chance.

Within the space of four minutes Chianese completed a double, and if there was an element of luck in his first, the second was perfectly executed. Emerton made a foray towards the penalty area and held the ball up for the onrushing Chianese to collect and stab his shot home.

It could have been even worse for the Jets before the break as Nikolai Topor-Stanley diverted a Scott Jamieson cross onto the crossbar.

A desperate Newcastle started the second period with renewed vigour and after a succession of corners Ali Abbas spurned a good opening at the back post. The Iraqi nearly redeemed himself a few moments later but his smart curling effort was too high.

Emerton was a constant threat down the right flank but the second half was largely a muted affair until the final minutes as Newcastle pulled a goal back to set the game on edge.

Topor-Stanley directed a header onto the crossbar with Jobe Wheelhouse following up to stab the ball home.

Suddenly the game was on a knife-edge but neither Jets substitute Jeremy Brockie, nor Mark Bridge for the Sky Blues, were able to convert good opportunities.

The win saw Sydney FC leapfrog Melbourne Heart into fifth and set up a finals showdown with Wellington Phoenix.

Sydney FC 3 (Cazarine 12, Chianese 29, 33)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Bridges 26, Wheelhouse 84)
Crowd: 14,494

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MATCH ACTION