KEY POINTS:
For the third time in as many weeks, the Wellington Phoenix failed to capitalise on the advantage of playing against teams reduced to 10 players as Adelaide United followed Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory in finishing games against the Phoenix a man short.
The 2-1 loss to Adelaide
at the start of the weekend's football bonanza followed by Perth's second win - 3-1 at home to Melbourne Victory - relegated the Phoenix to the bottom of the table.
They are better than that but now have to prove it in their remaining six games.
Again, they were punished for defensive lapses, but the bigger problem is on attack, where golden scoring chances are being muffed or not even pounced on. It would be a surprise if a big, strong, goal-scoring striker is not at the top of coach Ricki Herbert's shopping list as he turns his attention to the next Hyundai A-League season, even though the Phoenix, with 18 goals, remain the second most prolific scorers behind Adelaide.
The loss to Adelaide - made worse by a couple of shocking calls by Adelaide-based referee Craig Zetter which denied the Phoenix a goal and a penalty - was the only sour taste in the Beckham-mania weekend.
In attracting the biggest crowd for a domestic match in New Zealand, the Phoenix took their season tally to 85,122 at an average of 11,567.
With the must-win home game against Perth (the chance to get off the bottom rung) on Friday, Herbert and his team have little time to regroup.
Encouraged by their recent run of good form, the Glory will be further buoyed by their win over the defending champions.
Jamie Harnwell gave the home side the lead after 18 minutes. Nikita Rukavytsya doubled that nine minutes later before Adrian Caceres got one back for Melbourne in the 38th minute.
Rukavytsya's second, a minute into the second half, sealed it for the West Australians.
A Joel Griffiths goal one minute into added time earned Newcastle Jets their 1-0 away win over second-placed Queensland Roar and took Griffiths a goal clear in the golden boot race.
The postponement, because of shocking weather on the New South Wales coast, of the game between leaders Central Coast Mariners and neighbours Sydney FC did little to the table, with the coasters still four points clear and now with a game in hand.
