A powerful 40-metre strike by midfielder Tim Brown capped a free-flowing display by the Wellington Phoenix as they beat Sydney FC 2-1 in their A-league football clash at Westpac Stadium.
Brown's 60th minute effort gave the Phoenix a 2-nil lead and the breathing space to hold off a determined comeback by Sydney in the closing minutes.
Paul Ifill, starting for the first time since being injured in round two, had given the Phoenix an eighth minute lead when he fastened on to a lovely flighted pass from fullback Tony Lochhead and slipped the ball past former Wellington keeper Liam Reddy.
The only worry for coach Ricki Herbert was the Phoenix' inability to land the killer blow after butchering several clear opportunities in front of goal.
The win, just the Phoenix' second this season, lifts the Wellingtonians to eighth on the ladder just below the Melbourne Heart on goal difference, while the loss drops Sydney from third to fourth.
