KEY POINTS:
All bets are off in trying to pick the winner of the fourth A-League.
Upsets have become the norm with so-called top teams struggling and the minnows now within striking distance of the top four.
In their past three games - against the bottom three sides - Sydney FC have gone from warm favourites to also rans.
Since losing to the Wellington Phoenix, the John Kosmina-coached side have drawn with Queensland Roar and, in Sunday's late game, lost to Perth Glory.
In dropping the points at Members Equity Stadium, Sydney blew the chance to return to the top of the points table.
They were handed that chance when Melbourne Victory stubbed their toe in Newcastle going down 1-0 to the Jets with Marko Jesic's 85th minute goal separating the sides.
In the first game of the eighth round, Adelaide United, again with the only goal of the match being scored in the second half, beat Queensland at Suncorp Stadium to join Melbourne on 14 points.
Robert Cornthwaite's 61st-minute goal was enough to earn the South Australians their fourth win of the season. They now have the best defensive record conceding just a goal a game.
Sydney were stung early in Perth when Jamie Harnwell scored inside five minutes. The visitors hit back quickly with Brendon Santalab equalising in the 12th minute. The match was settled two minutes after the break when Harnwell scored his second.
The losses for Melbourne and Sydney became worse when both had players sent off before this Saturday's match of the round between the perennial rivals at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.
The home side will be without Socceroo striker Archie Thompson, who was sent off after 57 minutes in Newcastle, while Sydney had Ian Fyfe marched by New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary a minute into stoppage time at the end of the match in Perth.
In the third of the three games locked 0-0 at halftime, the Wellington Phoenix surged to their second win in three outings. The 1-0 away win over Central Coast was a real sweetener for born-again defender Karl Dodd, who headed home his first A-League goal and the 800th goal scored in three-and-a-bit Hyundai A-League seasons.
Back to familiar surroundings at Westpac Stadium for Sunday's clash with Queensland Roar - the two teams drew 1-1 in the opening round at the same ground - the Phoenix, with a third win of the season, could have the chance to burst into the top four for the first time since round six last season.
In other ninth-round action, Central Coast and Newcastle - both on 10 points - meet in the always fiercely contested NSW coastal clash on Friday night, while in the last game of the round Adelaide entertain Perth.
