Soccer: Heart beat faltering Phoenix

Troy Hearfield of the Phoenix competes with Dean Heffernan. Photo / Getty Images

Tim Brown claimed the 100th goal of the Wellington Phoenix's A-League soccer history but another important milestone remains elusive as Alex Terra and John Aloisi resuscitated Melbourne Heart's season with a 2-1 victory in Melbourne today.

Brazilian striker Terra and former Socceroos veteran Aloisi recorded their own notable achievements as the Phoenix's record outside of Wellington continues to undermine their title aspirations.

Winless after four excursions across the Tasman in 2010-11, the Phoenix had to be content with a point from a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their double header against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday.

Hopeful of recording their first road win since February last season, the Phoenix were outplayed during a key period after halftime as Heart recorded just their second win, seven rounds into the regular season.

They improve to seventh, the Phoenix remain sixth on goal difference ahead of Friday's home match against North Queensland in Wellington.

Terra, who missed last weekend's loss on the Central Coast due to injury, finally celebrated his first goal in Australia while marquee striker Aloisi also scored on his first start for the club.

Midfielder Brown set up a tense finale when he clipped a Paul Ifill cross past Clint Bolton with 15 minutes, though the home side held their nerve.

After dominating the Victory, the Phoenix were anticipating a rare away win, instead the rigours of three games in eight days contributed to a jaded performance after Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert opted to retain the same starting line-up.

Regulated to just 47 minutes in two appearances off the bench since joining the club from champions Sydney FC, Aloisi sat deep and was rarely sighted in the first half but he came to life after the break and might have had a hattrick within seven minutes as a series of crosses exposed Wellington's defensive alignment.

Ultimately Aloisi only made a telling connection with a teasing Gerald Sibon ball into the box in the 51st minute when he stretched out to prod past Danny Vukovic.

Aloisi might have had a second after Michael Marrone squared the ball across goal but Vukovic blocked a weak shot at his right hand post.

Vukovic, who continues to keep All Whites World Cup hero Mark Paston on the bench, effected the save of the match in the 58th minute when he sprawled to divert a goal-bound Terra header though Aloisi should have buried the rebound instead of slamming the underside of the bar.

Those misses were immaterial as Terra finally opened his account with a clinical left foot finish that gave Vukovic no chance after Nick Ward was dispossessed on the edge of the box.

The Heart was then guilty of losing focus, particularly when Ifill lofted in a cross that should have been handled by either Simon Colosimo and Dean Heffernan.

Instead it fell invitingly to Brown who hit the target and wheeled away barely celebrating the landmark goal.

The 100-goal accolade should have fallen to English striker Chris Greenacre but in a miss reminiscent of his hesitancy in front of goal against the Victory a clear scoring opportunity went begging in the 17th minute.

Greenacre's unhappy road trip ended in the 55th minute when he was pulled for Troy Hearfield. Dylan Macallister and Daniel were also introduced in an unsuccessful attempt to bridge the gap.

- NZPA