Phoenix beat Gold Coast, into A-League top-four

The Wellington Phoenix moved a step closer to a home game in the A-League playoffs with a grafting 1-0 win over Gold Coast United at Skilled Park.

Ahead 1-0 at halftime courtesy of a Paul Ifill penalty, the Phoenix showed composure under pressure and moved into fourth place on the table with just one round remaining.

Gold Coast, after a patchy start to the season, had hit form at the right time and went into the game in second place on the table and on a high after toppling competition leaders Melbourne Victory 1-0 last week.

Gold Coast United's loss - its first since December 13 - has cost it any chance of of taking out the minor premiership means they must now beat North Queensland Fury in the last round to be any chance of securing a top two finish.

The Phoenix, however, remain the Gold Coast's bogey side - United haven't beaten, or scored against, the Wellington outfit this season.

Phoenix form had looked a little patchy of late, a 1-0 win over Adelaide United following back-to-back losses to Melbourne and Perth Glory. But they did go into the game knowing a play-offs berth was assured after Adelaide United downed Brisbane Roar 2-0 on Saturday, and that a win over Gold Coast would go a long way towards securing a top-four berth and a first-up home match in the play-offs.

Wellington did receive something of a reprieve with the absence of uncompromising Gold Coast midfielder Steve Pantelidis, serving the first match in a five-game suspension for a wayward elbow on Melbourne striker Robbie Kruse last week.

That off-field controversy had dominated United's build-up during last week as the club clashed with the FFA.

United coach Miron Bleiberg hinted that the FFA had sent their "best sheriff" to the tourist strip - hard nosed referee Matthew Breeze - for arguably the most important game in their short history.

By full-time, Breeze was booed off Skilled Park by the 4202 United faithful for awarding a first-half stoppage time penalty that resulted in Ifill's winning goal.

Breeze raised eyebrows - and Bleiberg's blood pressure - when he penalised Bas Van den Brink's needless challenge on Tim Brown and pointed to the spot.

When asked about Breeze - who is a police prosecutor - Bleiberg launched into a wild west analogy.

"In the wild west a small town is making a lot of noise...so the marshall office decides to put some law enforcement in this town," he said.

"They send one of their best sheriffs to put law into town - and he does whatever he needs to do and it is quiet."

Bleiberg had called for United to ignore their off-field distractions ahead of their crucial game.

Easier said than done.

First Bleiberg and then owner Clive Palmer landed in hot water with Football Federation Australia for their comments this week in the wake of Pantelidis's season-ending suspension.

Typically outspoken billionaire Palmer's tirade was the most memorable, accusing the FFA of corruption and having an agenda against his club.

He faces sanctions from the FFA and has until this afternoon to respond to his code of conduct charge.

But Bleiberg's halftime actions may yet ensure off-field antics again become a talking point for the club.

Bleiberg waited patiently on the sideline for Breeze to come off the field at the main break before walking closely with the official through the tunnel while sharing his views.

But Bleiberg claimed he was just asking for consistency after Breeze dished out five yellow cards in the first half - three to United including two for simulation.

There were no bookings in the second half.

For the Phoenix, striker Eugene Dadi started on the bench, still not 100 percent after a mid-week ankle injury but Wellington benefited from the return of defensive midfielder Vince Lia after serving a two-week suspension.

It had been a long time since the two teams met, back in October last year, when the Phoenix were nothing short of sublime in overwhelming Gold Coast 6-0. This match, however, could not have provided a greater contrast, Gold Coast making most of the early running before the Phoenix worked their way back into the game.

Wellington keeper Liam Reddy was tested after 12 minutes, but had little trouble covering Michael Thwaite's on -target header. Barely a minute later, an Adrian Caceres long ball into the box found scrambling skipper Andrew Durante on the far post, and only the woodwork kept the Phoenix from an early lead.

The two teams looked like going into the break scoreless, but two minutes into injury time, a clumsy tackle from Gold Coast defender van den Brink on Tim Brown saw Breeze point to the spot and Ifill made no mistake.

The second half saw more of the same, the Durante-marshalled Phoenix defence working overtime to stifle any Gold Coast incursions, as Shane Smeltz's four-week goal-scoring drought continued. Increasingly reduced to long-range speculators, United's best chance with 13 minutes remaining, as a screamer from captain Jason Culina stretched Reddy to the limit.

Dadi, on for Manny Muscat after 66 minutes, came close to extending the Phoenix's lead with eight minutes remaining when he climbed high to head a Chris Greenacre cross a fraction high. Ultimately, it was the Phoenix's defence which held firm, laying a solid base for the crucial win.

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Paul Ifill pen 45+) Gold Coast United 0. HT: 1-0

- NZPA