KEY POINTS:
A Shane Smeltz screamer lifted Wellington Phoenix to a 2-1 upset of table-topping Melbourne Victory here tonight and injected further life into their A-League soccer campaign.
Smeltz' curling, 30m strike with 30 minutes remaining was the difference in an absorbing, encounter between two in-form teams.
The Phoenix had
never won two matches in succession before last week and their third triumph on the trot spelt the end of Melbourne's own three-game run.
It was also Wellington's first win over Melbourne in five meetings and was a deserved result after they had the better of the second half.
The scores were locked 1-1 at halftime but up stepped All Whites striker Smeltz with a solo strike in the 58th minute that underlined why is rated among the league's premier finishers.
He zipped around defender Michael Thwaite with a sublime turn and, with two other defenders standing off him, sent the ball into the top right corner for his league-leading ninth goal of the season.
The result in perfect conditions and in front of a sizeable crowd was one of Wellington's best in their 1-1/2 season existence, coming against quality opponents who are favourites to win the league.
There were some heart-stopping moments in the final 10min as Melbourne pushed forward, with Thwaite missing from an acute angle after eluding goalkeeper Mark Paston.
However, Wellington's growing maturity at the back carried them to their fifth win of the season and lifted them to fourth place, although three more matches remain in round 13.
An even match exploded into life with a series of Melbourne chances and a goal to each team midway through the first half.
Paston was forced to make three parrying saves from three separate Victory attacks, with Tom Pondeljak, Danny Allsopp and Kevin Muscat all denied.
However, Paston had no chance in the 21st minute when Allsopp crashed home a header from less than 1m out after Ney Fabiano's leaping header struck the post.
It took just one minute for the Phoenix to respond, when midfielder Tim Brown side-volleyed the headed clearance of a Leo Bertos free kick.
Under pressure, Brown got enough on the shot to bounce it into the top left corner past stunned goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos.
Wellington's Brazilian guest player Fred was a disappointment for much of the match, his highly-rated touch often letting him down against the club he helped to win the 2006-07 title.
However, his diminutive frame became more influential in the final 20 minutes.
His attacking partners Smeltz and Leo Bertos also lacked zip in the first half but Smeltz more than made amends after the break and nearly had a second goal in the latter stages.
Wellington edged the midfield dogfight through the work of Brown, John McKain and Michael Ferrante while Melbourne's pacy attacking unit was largely contained by central defenders Ben Sigmund and captain Andrew Durante, the latter playing his 50th A-League match.
The Phoenix' revival will be tested by a match away to Adelaide next Friday.
- NZPA
