Soccer: Road trip will define play-offs chase

The testing road trip for games in Perth and Melbourne - just four days apart - promises to be the defining period for Ricki Herbert's Wellington Phoenix in their chase for a place in the A-League play-offs.

Again buoyed by their no-nonsense 3-0 home win over North Queensland Fury, the Phoenix fly out on their long trip west looking to continue their strong recent run which has seen them lose only five times this season - comfortably the best record in the league.

Their plus-nine goal difference is headed only by Melbourne Victory (+10) who demolished Perth 6-2 - the west coast team face Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight before flying back to play the Phoenix at ME Bank Stadium on Friday.

After that game, the Phoenix fly to Melbourne for a catch-up game four days later. They then head to Christchurch another four days later to play Adelaide at AMI Stadium hoping they are not again struck by the curse when playing away from Westpac Stadium.

Their only home loss this season came when they ventured north to play in Palmerston North where they lost to Sydney FC.

Sydney surrendered top spot in the late round 23 fixture on Sunday when toppled 1-0 at home by Gold Coast United who went back to the top and joined Sydney in assuring themselves of places in the six-team play-offs.

The only goal at the Sydney Football Stadium (and in front of 14,941 fans) was scored by Joel Porter in the 20th minute during a period when the visitors were running the show.

The hosts dominated the second spell but failed to turn their eventual 57 per cent of possession into goals. Both teams had eight scoring attempts but only one from Sydney and two from the Coast tested the goalkeepers.

Not surprisingly, Melbourne were the most dominant team in the round.

Playing on a shocking surface at the Etihad Stadium, the Victory, encouraged by a crowd of 20,448, enjoyed 69 per cent of possession and converted six of their 11 scoring chances to win.

After Archie Thompson had given the home side the lead inside five minutes, he turned the show over to Robbie Kruse who nabbed a hat-trick with goals in the 12th, 26th and 40th minutes. The only blight in an emphatic first half was when Robbie Vargas scored a 23rd minute own goal.

Newcastle Jets beat Brisbane Roar 2-0 with second-half goals from captain Matt Thompson and a Michael Bridges penalty.

Brisbane, with Pieter Collen and goalkeeper Mathew Ham on debut, had a 17-7 advantage in scoring attempts but had only six on target whereas the Jets converted two of their seven chances to snatch their 10th win of the season and fourth place - three points, and one place, ahead of the Phoenix, who have a game in hand.

Adelaide United remain rooted to the bottom of the table after a 1-1 home draw with Central Coast. All Whites midfielder Michael McGlinchey played the last 24 minutes off the bench for the Mariners, who had gone ahead with a 39th minute Nik Mrdja penalty.

Travis Dodd gave the 10,156 faithful at Hindmarsh Stadium something to cheer about with his equaliser four minutes later.

In the feature game this weekend, Sydney head north to play Newcastle in the Sunday fixture.