Phoenix and Sydney record wins

The Wellington Phoenix have dashed any hope of Gold Coast United taking out the Hyundai A-league Premiers' Plate with a late first-half penalty crushing the home side at Skilled Park on Sunday night, while Sydney edged out Perth in a five-goal thriller.

The Wellington Phoenix have dashed any hope of Gold Coast United taking out the Hyundai A-league Premiers' Plate with a late first-half penalty crushing the home side at Skilled Park on Sunday night.

With Melbourne and Sydney both registering wins this weekend the result means that Gold Coast slips to third three points behind league leaders Victory and two behind second-placed Sydney.

The best Gold Coast can hope for is finishing second with the Hyundai A-league decider set for next week when the Sky Blues host the Victory.

With the match looking destined to head into the break scoreless, drama struck in stoppage time when United defender Sebastiaan van den Brink was adjudged to have brought down Tim Brown just inside the penalty area.

Breeze had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Phoenix journeyman Paul Ifill stepped up to take responsibility slamming his effort low into the bottom corner and giving the away side a much needed boost going into the second-half.

Meanwhile, two John Aloisi goals - one bizarre and highly controversial - have given Sydney FC a pulsating 3-2 win over Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium and kept the heat on league leaders Melbourne right until the last day of the regular season.

Aloisi struck just after half-time and three minutes from the end to secure a precious three points for the Sky Blues, who host Victory in a last-round blockbuster next Sunday.

Melbourne heads the table on 47 points from Sydney (45) and Gold Coast (44), who lost to Wellington on Sunday night.

It was hearts in mouths stuff for the crowd of 8359 in Sydney's west as the home side twice saw it lead snatched away by the gutsy visitors.

Steve Corica scored from the spot after 24 minutes but was furious when his side's advantage was erased in the shadows of half-time by Wayne Srhoj.

Aloisi restored the lead in the 49th minute, albeit in contentious circumstances, before Glory again equallised through Daniel McBreen with 11 minutes remaining.

Aloisi's headed goal in the 87th minute saw the one-time crowd villain hailed the hero on a day of drama and tension.

In the National Youth League, Perth Glory defeated Sydney FC 1-0 at Seymour Shaw Park thanks to a first half goal to Brent Griffiths.