The Wellington Phoenix have had their first defeat in five weeks beaten 1-0 by Melbourne Victory on a wet night which stretched their winless run at AAMI Park to 23 matches.
The result leaves the Nix 10th on the ladder, six points outside the top six.
Giancarlo Italiano made just one change to the XI which started the 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar on Waitangi Day with fit-again All Whites fullback Tim Payne returning in place of Japanese midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa.
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Club captain Alex Rufer was named on the bench after missing the past six matches with glandular fever, while young forward Luke Brooke-Smith was also back amongst the substitutes.
The Phoenix made a promising start with Corban Piper threatening with a couple of long throws inside the opening two minutes.
The Nix got in behind the Victory defence a couple of times soon after but the final pass let them down and they weren’t able to test Mitch Langerak in Melbourne’s goal.
Former Wellington midfielder Reno Piscopo produced the first shot of the match a quarter of an hour into the contest after Victory teammate Nishan Velupillay stood up a cross to the back post, but Piscopo volleyed his effort well off target.
He also blazed over the bar midway through the first half after finding a bit of space on the edge of the Phoenix penalty area.
The hosts only managed three other shots in the first 45, but they were all blocked by the well-organised Nix defence.
Wellington came closest to breaking the deadlock half an hour into the match when Kosta Barbarouses found some space down the left flank and delivered a curling box into the box that just evaded the head of Payne, who had made a lung-busting run from right back.
Barbarouses had limited opportunities in the first half and was twice brought down off the ball by Victory’s centre backs, but both challenges were missed by the referee.
Melbourne finished the half the better of the two sides and had a flurry of corners before the break but they weren’t able to threaten the resolute and disciplined Phoenix defence, who ensured the match remained scoreless.
The Victory came out with renewed vigour after halftime and Alby Kelly-Heald was called into action for the first time soon after the restart.
He made his first save less than 60 seconds into the second half, a regulation one to keep out a shot from Victory midfielder Jordi Valadon, before making a good save at his near post to turn away a stinging effort from halftime substitute Clarismario Santos.
Santos helped put the hosts in front shortly before the hour mark when he caught the Nix on the break and delivered an inch-perfect cross that fellow import Nikolaos Vergos headed home.
Kelly-Heald made a sharp save soon after to keep out a powerful shot from Zinedine Machach to ensure the Victory didn’t double their lead.
Italiano made a triple-change midway through the half, bringing on Rufer, Nagasawa and young forward Nathan Walker in place of Paulo Retre, Hideki Ishige and Lukas Kelly-Heald respectively.
The substitutions had the desired effect with the Phoenix controlling more possession and looking more threatening.
The Nix registered their first shot on target soon after with Langerak producing a great save to keep out a point blank shot from Barbarouses, who got on the end of a perfectly weighted pass from Payne.
Brooke-Smith entered the match in the 77th minute in place of Piper and he announced his arrival with a mazy run into the Victory box and was unlucky to see his shot deflect wide for a corner.
Matt Sheridan got in behind the Victory back four soon after but he was unable to pick out a Wellington teammate with his outstretched cutback.
The hosts had the chance to seal the win in stoppage time but they blew a couple of gilt-edged chances and Kelly-Heald made a good save to claw away a header from substitute Bruno Fornaroli.
The Nix were unable to create their own opening and time ultimately ran out.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow before quickly turning their attentions to next Saturday’s derby in Auckland.