The Wellington Phoenix have extended their club record unbeaten run to 13 A-League matches, scoring a 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners at their Aussie-based home in Wollonging.
After a scoreless first half, ex-Celtic striker Gary Hooper broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, scoring his second goal in as many games, slotting away from close range after a deflection off a Mariners defender.
Costa Rican Marcos Urena equalised for the visitors four minutes later after a mistake from Wellington defender Josh Laws, but Australian youth international Jaushua Sotirio, who started in place of Ben Waine, put his side back in front in the 63rd minute.
The Phoenix held on for the final half an hour and despite a missed spot kick from Waine, the club claimed all three points and extend their longest unbeaten run in history, dating back to the final two months of last season.
"I'm not really big into stats but it's nice to go 13 unbeaten," says manager Ufuk Talay
"It was most important that we pick up points early within the season, which we haven't done previously in our last two seasons.
"It puts us in a good position to build confidence and continue with this group."
Next up for the Phoenix is Friday night's clash agents in Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue.
