Soccer: Wonder strike by Dadi puts Phoenix on track

Eugene Dadi says his overhead goal for the Phoenix happened so quickly that he didn't have time to think about it. But he was pleased with it all the same. Photo / Getty Images

The biggest win of the 22nd round - and the first time this season they have won in successive outings - rocketed Ricki Herbert's Wellington Phoenix into the top half of the A-League table and into play-off contention.

The impressive 3-1 home win over Brisbane Roar - who had won the last meeting between the pair 4-1 - had the Phoenix up to fourth for 24 hours until Newcastle Jets upset Melbourne Victory 3-2 to leapfrog the Phoenix.

The Jets and the Phoenix were the only winners in a tight round in which three matches ended in draws.

Leaders Sydney FC finished 0-0 with Perth Glory on their trip west but still stretched their lead over Melbourne to four points.

In front of the second-biggest crowd of the round (only the 9319 who turned up at ME Bank Stadium in Perth headed the 8925 at Westpac Stadium) the Phoenix dominated the under-strength Brisbane and stunned them with arguably the goal of the season.

After Tim Brown had given the hosts their 1-0 halftime lead when he fired the ball between goalkeeper Griffin McMaster's legs after pouncing on a cross from Manny Muscat, Eugene Dadi, 36, not long off the plane after walking out on Perth to join Herbert, doubled the Phoenix lead with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick.

Leo Bertos fired the ball in from one of the 10 corners they won to find captain Andrew Durante lurking in front of goal from where he sent a deft header on to Dadi.

Facing his own goal, Dadi, an Ivory Coast international, launched himself and somehow managed to fire the ball into the Roar goal.

He followed that with a pretty impressive second six minutes later to stretch the lead to 3-0 and have them firmly on course for their first win in nine meetings between the Phoenix and Brisbane and their predecessor Queensland Roar.

But do not expect Dadi to repeat his heroics any time soon.

"It just happened," said Dadi. "I don't know. I can't tell you. The ball just came in and that was the only thing I could do.

"I'm just lucky that it went in. If you ask me to do that next week, it will be impossible. Every goal is great, even if it is a tap-in, but of course I am happy with this one and the way that it happened."

The only blot on the Phoenix effort came when they gave up a late goal as Sergio van Dijk scored two minutes from time to claim his 10th of the season and clear second on the golden boot table - nine behind runaway leader Shane Smeltz. It was Smeltz who scored two minutes into stoppage time to deny Adelaide United what appeared to be three invaluable points away from home.

Bottom of the table Adelaide took a 20th minute lead when Travis Dodd silenced the 4504 fans at Skilled Park. They held that advantage until Smeltz turned party-pooper as the clock wound down.

The points were also shared at Bluetongue Stadium where sometime All White Jeremy Brockie scored a 20th minute equaliser for North Queensland Fury after Nick Mrdja had given the home fans plenty to cheer about when he scored inside four minutes.

In the goalfest at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Matt Thompson and Michael Bridges scored in the 27th and 45th minutes for the Jets. Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat kept his team's hopes alive with a 36th minute penalty. Labinot Haliti re-established the Jets' two-goal advantage 11 minutes into the second half.

That lead was trimmed to 3-2 when Carlos Hernandez scored in the last minute.

Newcastle are back in action tomorrow night when they travel to play Gold Coast. The Phoenix are back at Westpac Stadium on Friday to host the Fury.

The key game of the 23rd round will be played on Sunday with Sydney to entertain Smeltz' Gold Coast.