The All Whites star Marco Rojas scored again for Melbourne Victory as they beat Sydney FC 3-1 on Saturday night to maintain their hold on second place in Australian football's A-League.
The Victory bossed and battered a Sky Blues team which finished the match with nine men in a compelling display at a sold-out AAMI Park.
Second-half efforts from Archie Thompson and Rojas followed a 24th-minute deflected own goal from Sydney defender Seb Ryall capped a dominant performance from the hosts.
The Brisbane Roar beat injury-riddled Perth Glory 1-0 away for a crucial triumph at nib Stadium.
Brisbane entered the match on a three-game losing streak and with their finals hopes hanging by a thread.
But a 30-metre wonder strike from midfielder James Meyer in the 16th minute was enough to secure a vital three points, the win lifting the Roar into seventh spot and back to within a point of the top six.
The ninth-placed Glory have now gone six straight games without a win, but remain just two points adrift of sixth spot.
Elsewhere, 10-man Western Sydney proved too strong for Melbourne Heart as the A-League newcomers continued their remarkable rise with a 1-0 victory at Parramatta Stadium.