Football: Phoenix handed heavy defeat

Besart Berisha of the Victory celebrates a goal. Photo / Getty

The Wellington Phoenix's winning running in the A-League came to a crashing halt last night when they went down 3-0 to the Melbourne Victory.

It was a convincing defeat against the side many expect to win this season's competition but it was not always one-sided.

The Phoenix, who had won their last two games, contributed to an entertaining contest but were undone by two goals in five second-half minutes when their own mistakes were punished.

The Wellington players would have been desperate to win, and win in style, given the uncertainty around the club's future.

The FFA have refused the Phoenix's advances for a 10-year licence, offering them only four years instead which has led to owners Welnix to question their commitment because of the lack of long-term certainty.

Wellington have traditionally struggled against the Victory, having now lost 11 of the last 13, but they don't fear any sides under coach Ernie Merrick and for all that went into the game having been unbeaten in the last five A-League away matches.

Supporters hold up Save the Nix signs at the Victory v Phoenix clash. Photo / Getty

They never really looked like adding to that last night.

The home side led 1-0 at halftime but few would have grumbled if it had been about 4-2 given the number of chances both sides carved out. It was only some excellent scrambling or good goalkeeping which kept things tight as both sides played with attacking intent.

Besart Berisha grabbed the only goal, when he wriggled his way past a couple of defenders and slotted it past Glen Moss in the 10th minute.

Most of Wellington's best chances fell to Roy Krishna, but he just couldn't get his shots away.

New import Jeffrey Sarpong is looking more threatening with each game and he laid on one delicious pass for Krishna, who rounded the goalkeeper only for Victory defender Carl Valeri to nick the ball away from his feet.

The game was effectively over on the hour mark after Kosta Barbarouses' shot took a wicked deflection off Andrew Durante and then Breisha rounded Moss when played through on a quick break.

Wellington's next game is against Central Coast on Sunday but there's more interest in whether there will be a club beyond this season and the next few days could be crucial.

Melbourne Victory (Berisha 10, 61, Durante OG 55) Wellington 0. Halftime 1-0.