14 Feb 2011

Phoenix make play-offs

6:17 am on 14 February 2011

Danny Vukovic became the first goalkeeper to score a goal in the A-League as the Wellington Phoenix booked their finals berth with a 3-1 win over North Queensland.

Vukovic took a stoppage time penalty and made no mistake, making history as the first goalkeeper to score for his own team in the sixth season of the competition.

The Phoenix dominated the Fury for the first hour at Westpac Stadium, scoring twice inside the first 11 minutes through Chris Greenacre and Dylan Macallister and were seemingly in total control.

But the Fury, who may well have played their last match in the A-League as Football Federation Australia prepares to decide on their future in the next few weeks, scored against the run of play on 66 minutes.

Needing just a draw to seal sixth place, the Phoenix eventually made sure of all three when Phoenix striker Mirjan Pavlovic was fouled in the penalty box four minutes into injury time and Vukovic took the spot-kick.

It is the Phoenix's second consecutive finals appearance and they'll play at Adelaide on Friday night in a sudden-death elimination final.