KEY POINTS:
A fuming Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert labelled his Sydney FC opposite John Kosmina "disrespectful" as the pair clashed heatedly after the visitors' stunning 2-1 A-League soccer win on Friday night.
An 89th minute Shane Smeltz penalty, after referee Craig Zetter ruled hand ball against Sydney FC captain Tony Popovic, sealed the Phoenix's third win of the season and lifted them from the foot of the ladder.
But it turned ugly when Herbert was seen unleashing a torrent of abuse at Kosmina soon after fulltime. He had to be restrained by a member of Phoenix management.
Kosmina was unapologetic and later admitted goading Herbert as the pair went to shake hands.
"I just said he got a lucky decision. That's the way it goes sometimes,"
Kosmina said. "I don't care. Herbie and I used to fight with each other when we played against each other. Nothing's changed."
Herbert took offence, and Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata later said the club would send a letter of complaint to Football Federation Australia.
"I think there's a way to accept defeats and maybe a way not to. I don't make decisions for referees but I was a bit disappointed with the comment," Herbert said.
"John and I go back 25 years and I thought it was a bit disrespectful to me and the club. I don't take that approach.
"But it's water under the bridge. We've kicked each other around the pitch for 10 years."
Replays showed Zetter was correct to award the penalty, with the ball clearly striking Popovic's left hand from a Smeltz cross.
The result confirmed the Phoenix as glamour club Sydney FC's bogey team, having beaten them 2-1 at home in September and recorded three wins from their five A-League clashes.
The Phoenix leapfrogged Perth and Newcastle to sixth on the ladder, a position they will retain if those two sides draw in Perth today.
Leo Bertos, who pushed forward to join Smeltz up front, scored his first Phoenix goal with a brilliant 34th minute header from a Tim Brown cross.
But a draw looked likely when Sydney's Stuart Musialik scored from long range in the 77th and keeper Mark Paston should have done better as the ball skidded across the wet turf.
The Phoenix fully deserved their upset win before a Sydney Football Stadium crowd of 12,856, as Herbert promoted a physical approach to rattle the hosts.
"Whether it's my Kiwi heritage coming out against Australia, I love nothing more than coming across the Tasman and dishing it up," Herbert said. "It was important tonight that we took that approach.
"We had hungry players and a little more legs around the pitch. We didn't want to let them settle."
Stand-in captain Jon McKain led the way in defence while Bertos, an off-season signing from Perth, injected some energy.
Herbert was also pleased for Smeltz who delivered a cool-headed penalty just a few days after confirming his departure to new club Gold Coast United at season's end.
"I put him under a lot of pressure. We have a good relationship and I think psychologically he needed to play well and score, and he did that."
Herbert hoped the win had finally seen his side turn the corner as they return home to host Newcastle then Melbourne.
"I thought that five weeks ago and we fell into a couple of holes against Queensland and Perth. If we perform like that we're going to win more than we lose. If that's a benchmark of where we need to get to, we've set it reasonably high."
- NZPA
