SYDNEY (AP) The Brisbane Roar maintained a five-point lead in the A-League and caused more misery for the winless Wellington Phoenix.
Midfielder Ivan Franjic scored the winning goal in the 74th minute in the New Zealand capital on Saturday for a 2-1 win. The Phoenix have four draws and five losses and are at the bottom of the 10-team league.
Words of encouragement for the Phoenix came from winning Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey.
"It probably appears to them at the moment that there's no end in sight for them in terms of getting points," Mulvey said. "But if they continue to play the way they did I'm sure they will pick some up very soon."
The Western Sydney Wanderers, meanwhile, remained in second place after a 1-0 win over Newcastle. Striker Mark Bridge's headed goal off a corner kick in the 33rd minute gave the Wanderers their fifth win in 10 matches, along with four draws.