Soccer: Suspended duo sorely missed

Tomas Rogic of the Mariners competes with Emmanuel Muscat of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

Central Coast Mariners 2 Wellington Phoenix 0

On this showing, Phoenix fans will hope Ben Sigmund has to wait another 83 games to wear the captain's armband again.

The centre back gave his usual wholehearted performance but was only skipper due to the absence of Andrew Durante and Tim Brown. The suspended veterans were sorely missed.

The Phoenix upped the tempo once they fell behind but generally looked a shadow of the team that had won their last three matches on the road, with Paul Ifill particularly quiet as they slumped to their second consecutive loss.

They now face a tough run to the finals, with away matches against Sydney and both Melbourne teams plus another clash with the Mariners.

Brisbane's final five matches look easier and the Roar should stay at second, leaving Ricki Herbert's men in a fight with Perth, Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC and Newcastle for the remaining two top four spots.

Boom teenager Tomas Rogic opened the scoring in the 50th minute with a sublime curling strike from 25 metres, his second spectacular goal in a week. The Mariners completely dominated midfield for most of the match, with the Phoenix chasing shadows most of the night. A Patrick Zwaanswijk header from a perfect Michael McGlinchey free kick sealed the points seven minutes from time.

Mark Paston was forced to make five saves in the first half alone, several from point blank range, as the home side completely dominated. McGlinchey ran the show on attack - his only blemish being a bad miss in the second minute that he should have buried - and has to be the first name in Herbert's All Whites' midfield against Jamaica at the end of the month.

Stand-in fullback Vince Lia was constantly caught out as the Mariners attacked at will down his flank and it was only Paston and profligate finishing - Adam Kwasnik and John Sutton were particularly guilty - that keep the game scoreless in the first half.

The Phoenix will remain in Sydney this week, ahead of their clash with Sydney FC on Saturday. The team are based in Bondi, training at Rushcutters Bay. Herbert will also travel across to Melbourne tomorrow to watch the New Zealand under-23 team against Saudi Arabia.

Central Coast Mariners 2 (T. Rogic 50, P. Zwaanswijk 83)

Wellington Phoenix 0

Halftime: 0-0