Goals from new recruits Scott Wootton and Gael Sandoval have lifted Wellington Phoenix into the A-League's top six playoff spots, capping a surge that has rescued them from last place on the table just 10 days ago.
Their fourth win in five games - the other result was a late draw against Adelaide United on Saturday - now has the Phoenix just three points off top-of-the-table Western United in fifth, burying all memory of a horror two-month that featured just one win and four games postponed by COVID-19.
Now, Wellington are making up for that lost momentum, with five games in 14 days providing an unexpected boost.
"Very good performance," says head coach Ufuk Talay. "This is our fourth game in 11 days and the boys backed it up very well.
"I think it was a dominant display with and without the ball tonight, and we scored some really good goals."
Wootton put the Phoenix ahead in the 33rd minute - his first in just his third outing for his new team - lurking at the back post to nod home a pinpoint corner cross from Clayton Lewis.
Mexican Gael Sandoval doubled the score in the 61st minute, unleashing from the edge of the penalty area to find the top right corner of the goal, while Rene Piscipo cooly put the result beyond doubt from point-black range.
"I think we're building momentum," says Talay. "Performance-wise, I think we're growing each game and hopefully that continues.
"There's a lot of confidence within the group and the football that we’re playing. There's still a long way to go, there's still a lot of matches to be played, but that's the aim - to make the top six and play finals football."
Wellington will cap their 'February Football Frenzy' against Sydney FC on Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix 3 (Wootton, Sandoval, Piscipo) Brisbane Roar 0
