SYDNEY: Blake Powell scored four times as Wellington Phoenix stunned Western Sydney 5-2 to cost the Wanderers the lead in Australia's A-League on Sunday.
Powell scored the first hat-trick of goals this season to put the New Zealanders up 3-0 at halftime and they comfortably held Wanderers at bay in the second half.
The loss cost the Wanderers the competition lead with Brisbane Roar edging a point clear after a 2-2 home draw with the Newcastle Jets on Friday.
It was a muted Wanderers following a week when the club was slapped with a suspended three-point penalty and a Aus$50,000 (US$36,000) fine after their fans let off a series of flares at a game in Melbourne the previous weekend.
Adelaide United continued their charge up the standings by coming from a goal down to beat bottom team Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in Gosford on Sunday.
Portuguese flyer Fabio Ferreira put the Mariners ahead with a goal on the counter but the Reds replied through Isiais, Bruce Djite and Stefan Mauk before the home side got a stoppage time consolation goal.
Melbourne City are fourth on goal difference from champions Melbourne Victory after the Melbourne derby finished 2-2 on Saturday.
The A-League leading scorer Uruguayan Bruno Fornaroli scored a double for his 17th goal of the season before City were pegged back by Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Gui Finkler.
City finished with 10 men after Anthony Caceres was red-carded but the match finished in controversy with Brazilian Finkler having a goal off a free kick denied despite television replays showing the ball had crossed the goal-line during the second half.
Perth Glory edged to within three points of the play-off places with a 2-1 away win at sixth-placed Sydney FC.
A blunder from Sydney goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic allowed Irish striker Andy Keogh to score his second goal since returning to the Glory last month, while Chris Harold netted his fifth goal in his last five games.
New Zealander Shane Smeltz scored a late consolation goal for the disappointing Sydney FC ahead of the start of their AFC Champions League campaign.
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