KEY POINTS:
Red cards are starting to cost Melbourne Victory dearly as their A-League charge unravelled at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.
Chasing a 10th straight game without defeat and with it the outright lead - following Sydney FC's demise at the hands of the fired-up Phoenix in Wellington - the Victory were undone 2-0 by visiting Queensland Roar.
Ernie Merrick's Melbourne, for a record third consecutive game, finished with 10 players after Carlos Hernandez's 58th minute dismissal for a second yellow card.
While he was taking his early shower, Queensland substitutes Tahj Minniecon and Michael Zullo helped themselves to the late goals that silenced the 22,266 fans.
Striker Ney Fabiano and goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos were already sidelined after red cards in the previous two outings.
At 0-0 at halftime, Melbourne were still on course for their 10th straight unbeaten game and in sight of the record 12 set by Central Coast Mariners from November 2005-February 2006.
But in the end the pressure told and Frank Farina's Roar got up. It was a bitter pill for Merrick who went into the game aware Sydney had just lost in Wellington and that a point would be enough to take the outright lead.
The Phoenix have an extra day off before playing Newcastle Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Newcastle go into the game just a point ahead of the Phoenix. Both have scored less than a goal a game with the Phoenix one goal better off on defence. The Jets must bounce back from a 2-0 loss away to Adelaide.
It was a solid effort from the South Australians just days after their midweek Asian Champions League triumph where they beat Japanese champions Kashima Antlers 2-1 (on aggregate) to progress to next month's home and away semifinals against Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan).
The winner of that two-leg battle will almost certainly qualify for Fifa's Club World Cup in Japan - and a likely game against Oceania winners Waitakere United.
In other seventh round action this weekend, Adelaide are at home to Central Coast on Friday night, Melbourne host Perth on Saturday, the same day Sydney entertain Queensland.
