Soccer: Phoenix misery rolls on

Phoenix attacker Paul Ifill puts Roar defender Matt Smith under pressure. Photo / Getty Images

This was a harsh result - the Phoenix deserved at least a point - but football tends to be unforgiving when you are at your lowest ebb.

This game didn't look like winless strugglers versus runaway leaders as the Wellington side dominated for long periods. But they couldn't convert their opportunities while the Brisbane side were clinical with theirs. It leaves the Phoenix winless after 10 games - and their next assignment is away to the defending champion Mariners.

Under coach Ernie Merrick, the Phoenix are playing more stylish football. They have also been competitive in almost every match, even in away games, a far cry from last season. But there are worrying signs.

Their defence, which for many years was solid under Ricki Herbert, has become leaky and they have developed a disturbing knack for blowing gilt-edged chances.

Scoring is the toughest job in football and the Phoenix have made hard work of the task in recent weeks.

The hosts started with intent, desperate to spark their season back to life. The Phoenix had just two wins from their previous 19 clashes with the Roar but dominated much of the first half.

The Roar had just one shot in the first 35 minutes, Besart Berisha dragging his effort wide from six yards, while the Phoenix had nine shots.

The best opportunities involved Stein Huysegems. In the first, the Belgian tried to squeeze the ball in at the near post, instead of squaring for an unmarked Jeremy Brockie to tap home. That may have been playing on Brockie's mind a minute later when the All White missed an open goal, lifting a bouncing rebound off goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos over the crossbar. His pain was accentuated when Brisbane skipper Matt Smith opened the scoring moments later, poking home from an innocuous but well placed free kick. The score was level soon after halftime, with Costa Rican midfielder Carlos Hernandez converting from the spot after a fortuitous penalty was awarded to compatriot Kenny Cunningham.

Glen Moss kept the Phoenix in the game with a penalty save from Berisha in the 66th minute but was outwitted by a delightful curling shot from Ivan Franjic seven minutes later. Hernandez, Paul Ifill (two) and Albert Riera (whose shot was cleared off the line) had opportunities to equalise in a frantic finale.

Phoenix 1 (C. Hernandez 47 pen) Roar 2 (M. Smith 36, I. Franjic 73).

The gap between ninth-placed Wellington and eighth-placed Adelaide United increased to five points after Adelaide beat the Central Coast Mariners 4-0 last night. The victory was just Adelaide's second in 10 games this season, with the first coming in the opening round.