Phoenix put dagger in Heart

The Wellington Phoenix took a step towards reigniting their A-League season on
Wednesday as the wheels threaten to fall off the Melbourne Heart's entirely.
The Phoenix beat the Heart 2-0 at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, with striker Paul
Ifill scoring both goals in the second half.
The Heart also finished the match with 10 men as skipper Matt Thompson was marched
by referee Jarred Gillette 20 minutes from time for a rash challenge on Ifill - his
second bookable offence.
Wellington bounced back from a tepid run of four losses in their past five matches,
with Ifill delivering two goals in an action-packed 11-minute second-half period.
The Barbados international latched on to a deflected Vince Lia pass on 62 minutes to
slot the ball past Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton.
Then as Ifill began to assert his influence in the front third, the Heart lost
Thompson as he clattered clumsily into the striker to earn a second yellow card.
Just three minutes later Ifill had a second goal, capitalising on some classy
lead-up work from substitute Nick Ward and Tim Brown to put his side two goals up.
He could have had a hat-trick on 78 minutes, but Bolton deflected a clear sight at
goal wide of the left-hand post.
The Heart will be kicking themselves for not putting away their chances when they
had them in the first half and early in the second - Brazilian striker Alex Terra
most culpable with two clear-cut opportunities.
In the first half, Terra was put clear on goal by a clever Adrian Zahra through ball
but shot badly over the bar.
Then Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston saved a second Terra chance after Gerald Sibon
again sent the Brazilian through.
Soon after Sibon also forced Paston to touch a lofted shot away and Terra was unable
to direct the rebound with any power towards goal.
The Phoenix then struck and after the Heart lost Thompson, playing their fourth
match in 13 days took its toll on the visitors and they faded badly.
It was the Heart's third successive loss and they must back up on Saturday without
the automatically suspended Thompson to play Sydney FC at AAMI Park.