Sydney FC have moved to within a point of the Hyundai A-League top six after two second half goals in three minutes helped sink Wellington 3-1 at a rain-soaked SFS.
Midfielder Brendan Gan, starting just his second match of the season, struck in the 14th minute before strikers Mark Bridge (73 min) and Alex Brosque (76 min) completed the job before the smallest crowd (4012) in Sydney’s history
Substitute Dylan Macallister pulled a consolation goal back for the Phoenix seven minutes from time.
It was Gan’s first goal in 15 months while Bridge ended a goal-scoring drought stretching back 13 matches.
Remarkably, the Sky Blues are now just one spot behind sixth place despite starting the season with a run of 10 games without victory.
The hosts started full of purpose against a Wellington side embarking on a difficult cluster of away games.
The Killer Bs – Brosque and Bridge – were dangerous all night and carved out the first opportunity on 14 minutes.
Bridge headed clear of his marker and let fly with a shot that Mark Paston in goal could only block into the path of Brosque.
The Sydney striker was odds on to put the rebound away but Paston reacted brilliantly to regain his feet and block the second attempt.
But two minutes later the Phoenix keeper was picking the ball out of his net.
Bridge turned his defender and floated a left-foot cross to the back post when Gan had ghosted in unattended.
The midfielder steered his header back towards the near post, leaving a stranded Paston with no chance.
Wellington will feel aggrieved they didn’t cash in on the hour when Chris Greenacre’s glancing header was parried by Sydney keeper Ivan Necevski into the path of Tim Brown, who squeezed his attempt wide of the right post.
Eight minutes later Paul Ifill turned Sebastian Ryall inside out to enter the Sydney box but collected nothing but side netting from a very handy position.
They were soon made to pay for their wastefulness as heavy rain returned to the SFS.
Bridge finished some brilliant lead-up work from teenage substitute Terry Antonis to make it 2-0 on 73 minutes and turned provider to set up Brosque for the sealer three minutes later.
Brosque’s goal should have been disallowed, however, as Ryall clearly handled before finding Bridge.
Macallister’s reply came too late for the New Zealanders.
Sydney have now gathered 14 points from a possible 21 in their last seven matches to revive a season that was headed for disaster.
Sydney FC 3
(Gan 14m, Bridge 73m, Brosque 76m)
Wellington 1
(Macallister 83m)
Crowd: 4012
