Having soaked up all that pressure, the Phoenix thought they'd taken the lead themselves in the 26th minute when Polish utility Michal Kopczynski had the ball in the net after a goalmouth scramble. However, what would have been his first A-League goal was correctly chalked off by an assistant referee's flag.
Phoenix coach Mark Rudan made just one change to his starting side, with defender Dylan Fox replacing Steven Taylor who failed a late fitness test. Unfortunately Fox's afternoon lasted just half an hour, stretchered off after flinging himself in front of an Anthony Caceres effort and copping some friendly fire to his ankle from his skipper Andrew Durante. Sadly for Fox, who was making just a third start of the campaign, the injury is likely to sideline him for the next six to eight weeks.
The Phoenix started more brightly in the second period, with David Williams guiding a shot just wide of the right-hand post before Roy Krishna was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Alex Wilkinson. On his 30th birthday, Irish striker Cillian Sheridan replaced Sarpreet Singh ten minutes into the second half but couldn't make a significant impact.
The introduction of Alex Brosque after an hour proved pivotal for Sydney FC though, the skipper winning his side a penalty after he was brought down by Kurto. Le Fondre smashed the resulting spot-kick into the roof of the net to notch his 14th goal of the season.
Wellington searched for an equaliser with energetic substitute Max Burgess coming closest, but Sydney FC were able to close out the contest and move temporarily into second place on the A-League ladder. Despite the defeat, Wellington remain sixth and now have a two-week break before a visit to the cellar-dwelling Central Coast Mariners on March 9.
Sydney FC 1 (Le Fondre pen 65')
Wellington Phoenix 0