Soccer: Phoenix retain tenuous hold on top-four spot

Paul Ifill of the Phoenix makes a break. Photo / Getty Images

From a feast to a famine in four days was the story of the latest rounds of the Hyundai A-League. From a high of 23 goals in the midweek round, just nine goals were scored.

Only in round three, when then leaders Brisbane Roar beat Gold Coast United 3-0, have fewer goals been scored.

While the Wellington Phoenix slumped to a disappointing 1-0 loss to Perth Glory, other results went their way and left them in the top four but with the ninth-placed Newcastle Jets now just four points back. All the teams below the Phoenix have a game in hand and will be well aware that the Wellington side traditionally struggles away from home.

Their next two matches - on Sunday and the following Friday - are away to the bottom two teams in the league but even with those matches against Gold Coast United and the Jets seen as winnable, the Phoenix fans will not be holding their breaths.

Sydney FC blew their chance of overtaking the Phoenix when, in the second of third Sunday matches, they too slumped 1-0 at home to leaders Central Coast Mariners.

The visitors went ahead inside 10 minutes and held on to win and stretch their unbeaten run to 12 matches.

Pedi Bojic sparked the move which also involved Bernie Ibini before Oliver Bozanic thumped the ball home with the benefit of a slight Rhyan Grant deflection.

In the last of the three matches, Melbourne Heart had the chance to leapfrog Brisbane Roar into second place but they too stubbed their toe against lesser opposition.

It was almost a carbon copy at Skilled Park where the Heart went ahead early and looked set to hold on for the victory until a touch of Maceo Rigters brilliance salvaged a 1-1 draw and a point.

Playing his first game of the season, Kristian Sarkies unleashed a free kick to give the Melbourne side their ninth-minute lead.

They held that advantage and, temporarily at least, second place on the points table until the 72nd minute when quick-thinking Rigters cashed in on defensive uncertainty to back-heel the equaliser.

The weekend's 15th round also began with a 1-1 draw as Adelaide United fought back to grab a point with a late and somewhat controversial Sergio van Dijk penalty.

Visiting Brisbane Roar opened the scoring when Issey Nakajima-Farran scored on the hour.

The home side gave their fans something to cheer about as they braved the almost torrential rain when, in what appeared a harsh call, Adelaide were awarded a penalty when Brisbane skipper Matt Smith brought van Dijk down as he fell after being fouled by Bruce Djite on the edge of the area.

The draw continued a four-match unbeaten run under new Adelaide coach John Kosmina, a far cry from their earlier meeting this season when the Roar won 7-1 at Suncorp Stadium.

Melbourne Victory were the only team to "score" two goals but both were own goals conceded by Newcastle defender Sung-Hwan Byun.

Ryan Griffiths got one back for the visitors with six minutes to play but Kevin Muscat was left to celebrate the victory in his only game in charge as he filled the gap left by sacked coach Mehmet Durakovic and before Jim Magilton - who watched from the stands - takes over.