Goals from Kosta Barbarouses, Thomas Broich, Massimo Murdocca and Mitchell Nichols helped Brisbane Roar put a stop to Wellington Phoenix’s unbeaten run at Westpac Stadium with a clinical 4-1 win on Wednesday night.
Barbarouses and Broich bookended a goal for Tim Brown to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at the break. Murdocca added a third with 14 minutes to go before Mitchell Nichols added the final flourish in stoppage time.
Ironically, it was the Roar – then known as Queensland – who were the last team to win at the Wellington venue two years and 25 games ago.
The Phoenix, who started New Zealand international Simon Elliott in the midfield following his signing on Monday, were chasing the game from the start, thanks to their former team-mate Barbarouses.
Having scored the winner in the corresponding fixture in Brisbane, the young striker got on the end of a pinpoint cross from the right from Ivan Franjic to slot home the game’s opener as the Wellington defence was carved open.
Chris Greenacre had a good chance to draw the Phoenix level a minute later but couldn’t poke home Paul Ifill’s ball into the box.
Barbarouses saw another effort hit the side netting before North, playing at right back on his return to the starting line-up, was booked for a crude challenge on Broich.
Ifill, who was booked in the second half, then had a great chance to draw his team level on 26 minutes when Matthew Smith inexplicably let a long ball into the box. But his shot flashed across the face of goal and wide of the upright.
Smith got a verbal spray from goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos for his poor judgement.
Ten minutes later and the home team were back on level terms thanks to Brown’s second of the season.
Leo Bertos deflected a poor clearance from the Roar defence and Brown took one touch and volleyed past Theoklitos.
The visitors though went into the break 2-1 up thanks to Broich, whose well-struck goal-bound effort got the slightest of touches from North.
The woodwork denied Brisbane a third in the 53rd minute when Massimo Murdocca got on the end of a Reinaldo cross in but saw his shot fly back off the post.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert turned to his bench with 30 minutes remaining, throwing on Dylan Macallister for Vince Lia, Daniel for Manny Muscat 10 minutes later then Nicky Ward for Greenacre as the home side chased an equaliser.
But it was all in vain as it was Brisbane who sealed the win with the hard-working Murdocca getting a deserved goal after beating the offside trap and latching onto a through ball from Jean Carlos Solorzano, then Mitchell sliding another one past Paston in stoppage time.