3 Mar 2013

Phoenix win first A-league game since December

8:00 pm on 3 March 2013

The Wellington Phoenix football club has recorded its first win in the A-league since December.

Days after coach Ricki Herbert resigned, the Phoenix has beaten the Melbourne Heart 1-0 at Dunedin's indoor stadium.

Jeremy Brockie scored in the first half to give the competition's bottom club their first win since they beat the Perth Glory 1-0 in Auckland on 2 February.

AAP reports they finished with 10 men after striker Stein Huysegems got a second yellow card late in the match for a tackle on Simon Colosimo.

The result left the Heart winless for their 16th consecutive away game stretching back to 2011.

The Phoenix had much the better of the game at Forsyth Barr Stadium and should have won by more.

The home side had a clear edge in possession and territory in the first half but were unable to make capital, missing at least six clear-cut chances.

Heart began to threaten midway through the second spell, but the Phoenix defence, backed by a small but noisy crowd of 4000, was equal to the task.