Paul Ifill inspired the Phoenix to a club-record fourth straight win last night (Fri), turning on the style to help edge Adelaide and consolidate second spot in the A-League.
It was the first time in club history Wellington triumphed in Australia after falling behind, and the 2-1 result was an unprecedented third win in a row across the Tasman.
However you look at it, these are historic times for the team many pre-season prognosticators had taking out the wooden spoon. If the Phoenix manage to maintain second spot over the last seven games to earn a place in the minor final, it will probably have a lot to do with Ifill - a man coach Ricki Herbert called the A-League's finest.
On the evidence of last night's performance, that sentiment would be hard to argue against. Ifill was a constant menace for the Adelaide defence, often looking like a man among boys as he did everything bar grab a goal.
"Paul is a real talent," Herbert said. "He is special and a great guy with it. He can be a game breaker for us. Now that he has come through the injuries he sustained last year and the beginning of this season I think he is the best player in the competition."