Soccer: Fortress Phoenix losing its aura

Emmanuel Muscat of the Phoenix and Mariner Joshua Rose jostle for the ball during last night's match in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

Fortress Westpac Stadium is quickly losing its air of invincibility for the Wellington Phoenix and their fans.

After building a second-to-none record at the ground, the Phoenix slumped to their second 2-1 loss in five days as the Central Coast Mariners triumphed.

While Ricki Herbert's under-manned squad slumped to a second successive loss at the ground for only the second time in four years, the Mariners and coach Graham Arnold left the Capital celebrating their second successive win and, temporarily at least, third place on the Hyundai A-League table.

Herbert departed empty-handed and again rued the ill-discipline which had led to four reds cards in as many games which left him with key players on the sideline. That disruption again evident last night.

From the outset the swirling northerly wind made control difficult but as often is the case the team, in this case the Mariners, playing into the breeze created the better early chances but without seriously threatening to turn them into goals.

They did, however, force the only three corners of the first spell, along with a number of attacking free kicks but the ever-likely strike force of Daniel McBreen, 19-year-old Nigerian Bernie Ibini and Matt Simon failed to get the vital final touch.

The Phoenix, not surprisingly, had the most balls into the opposing penalty area but from a dozen half chances young Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan was called on to make just one save.

The Phoenix were most dangerous when attacking with width given them by Daniel Cortes and, in particular, Leo Bertos but too many attacks lacked sting in the final third to really ask questions of the Mariners defence well-led by captain Alex Wilkinson.

Chris Greenacre, again asked to carry the sole attacking role for the home team, saw little ball. His best effort a header wide of Ryan's goal.

The deadlock was broken two minutes into the second half. McBreen found Simon wide and with Tony Lochhead and Brent Griffiths caught ball-watching, Simon threaded the ball square to the rampaging Ibini who provided the clinical finish. Stung, the Phoenix lifted their attack, forced three unsuccessful corners but got back on terms in the 70th minute.

Spaniard Dani Sanchez threaded the ball through to Greenacre who timed his run perfectly to break into the penalty area and fire his shot onto the bottom of the far post from where the ball rolled back across the face of goal and eventually over the line.

Not satisfied with that, the Phoenix went in search of a second. The chances came. The goals did not and after soaking up 10 minutes of pressure, the visitors hit back. Less than 10 minutes after replacing Ibini, former Phoenix utility Troy Hearfield provided the perfect pass to Simon who, from close range, buried the 82nd minute game-breaker.