The Wellington Phoenix have been banished to the bottom of the A-League ladder after a 2-0 away loss to Melbourne Victory.
Two set-piece goals to towering striker Rudy Gestade was enough for the Victory to secure just their second win of the season, easing pressure on coach Grant Brebner.
The 1.93m Gestede, who has played in the English Premier League with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, scored both his goals from corners delivered by Jake Brimmer, either side of half-time.
The loss leaves the Nix with just five points from eight games - 13-points back from leaders Central Coast Mariners, as they prepare to travel to Newcastle to take on the Jets on Sunday.
Not for the first time during a stunted campaign, the Phoenix dominated possession and looked the more creative of the two sides, with captain Ulises Davila a standout through the middle of the park.
But Ufuk Talay's side managed just one shot on target from the 18 they created in another wasteful day in front of goal.
"If there was an award for a team that can get into the box and not score, we’d win that," Talay said.
"And if there was an award for allowing cheap goals from set-piece then we’d win that as well."
"We have 18 shots and only one on target, and that’s where you get the result from.
"It comes down to the attributes of the players.
"A bit of finesse, a bit of quality in the final third. We get into good areas but we don’t capitalise on our opportunities."
Keeper Oli Sail was again impressive between the sticks for the Phoenix after replacing Stefan Mironivic for the 2-2 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.
Sail made a pair of spectacular saves in the opening quarter, but could do nothing when Gestade headed in from close range, three minutes into first-half stoppage-time.
Gestade's second, four minutes after the restart finished the Phoenix off.
