Attacking genius ... Marco Rojas and Marcos Flores had too much for the Phoenix. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited
Melbourne Victory were controlled and clinical in closing the gap on the A-League top two on Saturday night.
The Victory climbed to within a win of second place with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
After being poked with a stick by the Phoenix for much of the first half, the Victory snapped into action to eventually smother the visitors with goals to Marcos Flores just before halftime and Marco Rojas early in the second.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 30 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 29 |
| 3 | Victory | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 26 |
| 4 | Western Sydney | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 23 |
| 5 | Perth | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 18 |
| 6 | Brisbane | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 17 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | -9 | 17 |
| 8 | Wellington | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 16 |
| 9 | Heart | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -3 | 15 |
| 10 | Sydney | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | -14 | 13 |
The Victory are now just three points adrift of second-placed Adelaide United, who drew 0-0 with Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium earlier on Saturday.
Coach Ange Postecoglou praised his players' character after they emerged from the Christmas-New Year period with nine of a possible 12 points.
"For all the clubs, this period is a massive period of football. You're travelling, you're playing games one after the other in trying conditions," Postecoglou said.
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"The fact we've come through this four-game period with three wins, it's a massive testament to the work the players have done, but also their character."
But the Victory did have to work hard in the first 40 minutes to break down an organised and determined Phoenix, who attacked down the flanks and matched the home side for much of the period.
Eventually Flores' goal on 43 minutes from a Rojas cross gave Victory a lead few saw coming.
Victory regained their swagger from then on, dominating the second half.
Midfielder Billy Celeski was outstanding and controlled the middle of the park as the Phoenix struggled for traction without suspended enforcer Manny Muscat.
After creating little in the first half, the Victory created a welter of second half chances.
But Rojas' tap-in of a rebound from Adrian Leijer shot off the post in the 53rd minute was the only tangible result, with midfielder Mark Milligan shaving a post and several others shooting just wide.
Phoenix's best chance came late in the second half when substitute Cameron Lindsay forced a good diving save from goalkeeper Nathan Coe.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert, whose 152nd match in charge surpassed the A-League record, felt his side had been excellent for most of the first half but missed the experience of Muscat and injured striker Paul Ifill when things got tough.
"The depth from our perspective is limited from an experience point of view," Herbert said.
"Jeremy (Brockie) is having a good season for us. But we need more people (scoring goals) with that. Out of midfield we've been a bit short."
The Phoenix remain outside the top six following the defeat.
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