Brisbane maintains 1st-place lead with 2-1 win

SYDNEY (AP) The Brisbane Roar maintained a five-point lead in the A-League and caused more misery for the winless Wellington Phoenix.

Midfielder Ivan Franjic scored the winning goal in the 74th minute in the New Zealand capital on Saturday for a 2-1 win. The Phoenix have four draws and five losses and are at the bottom of the 10-team league.

Words of encouragement for the Phoenix came from winning Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey.

"It probably appears to them at the moment that there's no end in sight for them in terms of getting points," Mulvey said. "But if they continue to play the way they did I'm sure they will pick some up very soon."

The Western Sydney Wanderers, meanwhile, remained in second place after a 1-0 win over Newcastle. Striker Mark Bridge's headed goal off a corner kick in the 33rd minute gave the Wanderers their fifth win in 10 matches, along with four draws.

Adelaide United outclassed defending champions Central Coast 4-0, while defender Adama Traore scored in the 36th minute and substitute Gui Finkler added an insurance goal with a minute remaining as the Melbourne Victory beat the Perth Glory 2-0.

Former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero will return to the lineup when Sydney FC meets the Melbourne Heart and their marquee player Harry Kewell, both veteran captains for their sides, in the final match of the round Sunday.

The 39-year-old Del Piero has had hamstring and calf soreness while Kewell, 35, has been out of the Heart lineup with neck and ankle injuries. The Heart are also winless on the season.