Vince Lia's first goal in four-and-a-half years was enough to give Wellington Phoenix a 2-1 win against 10-man Perth Glory in their A-League clash this morning.
The Australian midfielder struck just a minute from time to bring Perth's recent run of good form to an abrupt end.
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The visitors began brightly and were almost ahead inside the opening five minutes when Michael McGlinchey's low cross to the back post was almost turned home by Jeffrey Sarpong.
However, just a minute later Perth took the lead when Gyoergy Sandor lashed home from six yards out after Phoenix had failed to deal with a corner.
The lead lasted less than five minutes though as Roy Krishna rounded off a quick Phoenix break when he stroked the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the box to level the game.
A lively first half was almost rounded off when Roly Bonevacia drilled a 25-yard effort narrowly wide of goal, but it remained level at the break.
The game slowed in the second half in pouring rain at the nib Stadium, with both sides only carving out half chances.
Mitchell Oxborrow's free kick created chaos in the Wellington box midway through the second half, but no Perth man was able to turn the ball home.
The hosts then had Richard Garcia sent off for a second yellow card in the final five minutes, but it seemed they would hang on for a draw until Lia prodded home from a late corner to snatch all three points for Phoenix.
Joe Sharratt
