Phoenix clinch fourth place
A 3-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners on Friday night has earned the Wellington Phoenix a home Hyundai A-League minor semi-final next Sunday.
Two goals in as many minutes by Paul Ifill sealed the win at Westpac Stadium after a Tim Brown header had given the home side a 1-0 lead at the break.
Vince Lia threaded a superb ball through to Manny Muscat who dragged the ball back and Brown headed home his seventh of the season to break the deadlock on 14 minutes.
Ifill slotted his first with a simple tap in before receiving a pass from Adrian Caceres a minute later to seal his brace and the victory for the Phoenix.
The Newcastle Jets will enter the Hyundai A-League finals having lost their last four matches after being defeated 2-1 by Adelaide United at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
Goals to Fabian Barbiero and Matthew Leckie won the match for the visitors who lifted themselves out of the wooden spoon position for the time being.
North Queensland has the opportunity to condemn the Reds back to the cellar when it entertains Gold Coast at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
The Jets, however, look a long shot in the finals series starting next weekend, going into the playoffs a shadow of their mid-season selves.
In the National Youth League curtain raiser, Adelaide recorded a 5-2 victory over Newcastle.
Francesco Monterosso and Evan Kostopoulos each netted brace and Kristian Sarkies also got on the scoresheet for the Reds, while Matthew Sim and Jason Naidovski both scoring penalties for the Jets.