Soccer: Victory roll into town as Phoenix lick wounds

Regular goalkeeper Mark Paston missed Sunday's match because of an injury. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has little time to contemplate his team's 4-1 loss to Brisbane Roar in trying conditions at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night as a far greater challenge looms.

In another of those testing short turnarounds, the Phoenix are at home to table-topping Melbourne Victory on Friday night. The only thing in Herbert's favour is it revisits the scene of his greatest coaching triumph.

Facing Melbourne at Westpac Stadium promises to be a torrid battle, especially as Ernie Merrick and his team jet in on the back of a 4-0 win over early Hyundai A-League pace-setters Gold Coast United.

That win in front of the 16th round's biggest crowd - the 20,537 at Etihad Stadium,was more than double the next best (the 10,114 who turned up at Sydney Football Stadium) - took the Victory five points clear of any rivals.

It was a commanding performance from the Victory. They led the shot count 15-6 (8-1 with attempts on target) and enjoyed 61 per cent possession.

Herbert will hope his World Cup hero, goalkeeper Mark Paston, recovers from the hip injury which kept him out of Sunday's loss. He also must rustle up a right back after Manny Muscat's dismissal 57 minutes into the game against the Roar and his subsequent suspension.

The only good Herbert would be taking from the game was the return to the goalscoring list of Chris Greenacre who took his tally to five - one behind team-mate Paul Ifill.

The golden boot race continues to be led by Shane Smeltz but he's now only two ahead after Robbie Fowler's 66th minute strike for North Queensland Fury in their 2-1 home win over hapless Adelaide United, who have tumbled to the bottom of the table.

Archie Thompson's two goals for Melbourne took his tally to eight. He was joined by Sergio van Dijk, scoring the third of Brisbane's four goals.

So tight is the play-off race in the lower half of the table just three points separate the Phoenix, in sixth place, and Adelaide.

Adelaide have the chance to make some progress in the other Friday night game when they host Newcastle Jets, who travel south buoyed by their 3-1 away win over Sydney FC, with Michael Bridges scoring twice.

Faltering Gold Coast United at least have home advantage in their Saturday assignment against Central Coast Mariners, who are up to third after their 0-0 home draw with Perth Glory in a game in which All Whites midfielder Michal McGlinchey played all 90 minutes for the Mariners.

Brisbane face the long trip west to play Perth in what could be the match of the round on Sunday.