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Wonderful Wanderers ... Tony Popovic's side made it nine in a row against Wellington. Source: Paul Miller / AAP
Western Sydney extended their lead atop the A-League ladder on Sunday, beating Wellington 2-1 at Parramatta Stadium to post a record-breaking ninth consecutive victory.
Japanese star Shinji Ono and striker Mark Bridge both scored from penalties for the Wanderers, with Jeremy Brockie getting one back for the visitors.
The win puts the Wanderers five points clear of Central Coast on the table and means they surpass the league's all-time longest winning streak of eight straight matches set by Melbourne Victory in the inaugural season.
But it was hardly the thumping most were expecting as the bottom-placed Phoenix managed to match it with the ladder-leaders for most of the game.
But ever-grounded Wanderers boss Tony Popovic won't be letting his team get carried away.
"You can go on unbeaten runs but to win nine in a row is quite special," he said.
"But like everything at this club at the end of the year we'll reflect on a great milestone, there have been many this year, but we have not achieved anything yet so we'll reflect on that when the season ends."
The vocal Red and Black Bloc were unusually quiet for the first 20 minutes of the match as they staged a silent protest on behalf of a number of members they believe have been unjustly banned by Football Federation Australia over various incidents including the lighting of flares and anti-social behaviour.
Popovic admitted his side played below their usual level.
"I think all teams now will take a result over a performance," he said.
"We've said all along if your performances are good we believe the results will come.
"Today wasn't our best ... but I'm happy they won that game at all costs."
With history on the line the Wanderers came out on the attack and didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Sydney | 24 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 50 |
| 2 | Central Coast | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 45 |
| 3 | Victory | 24 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 36 |
| 5 | Sydney | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | -8 | 30 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | -12 | 30 |
| 7 | Brisbane | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 29 |
| 8 | Perth | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | -2 | 28 |
| 9 | Heart | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | -2 | 27 |
| 10 | Wellington | 25 | 6 | 6 | 13 | -18 | 24 |
Wellington defender Tony Lochhead conceded a penalty six minutes in for tripping Youssouf Hersi in the box.
Ono stepped up to the mark and made no mistake, putting the hosts in front in the eighth minute to send the majority of the 15,8009 fans into raptures.
Re-live all the drama from the Wanderers' narrow victory over Wellington, with video of all the action, at our A-League Match Centre.
Brockie found the equaliser in the 22nd minute getting on the end of a Leo Bertos cross, scoring his 15th goal of the season to join Central Coast's Daniel McBreen at the top of the goalscorers' list.
The loss rules the Phoenix out of the finals but interim coach Chris Greenacre, who took over from Ricki Herbert last month, was more than pleased with his side's showing.
"I just said to the players how proud I am of them - their effort, their endeavour, their will to want to take the game to Western Sydney," he said.
"I'm just disappointed with the result.
"But now with the burden (of playoffs) off the shoulders we'll release the shackles and let the players express themselves and just enjoy playing in the last two games."
Just when it looked like the Phoenix had the momentum, they shot themselves in the foot right after the break by giving away another penalty courtesy of a blatant handball by Vince Lia.
This time Bridge took the spot-kick to give the Wanderers a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute.
Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Labinot Haliti both threatened with strikes moments later while the Phoenix's new young striker Corey Gameiro and Paul Ifill tested 'keeper Ante Covic at the other end.
Hersi had a chance to widen the gap in the 80th minute but Phoenix gloveman Glen Moss did well to save the effort.
Lia looked like levelling in the dying minutes, forcing a save from Covic.
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