League-leading Melbourne City have consigned Wellington Phoenix to a third straight defeat with a commanding 4-1 win in their A-League showdown.
The home side took the lead late in the first half, then exploded to life after the Phoenix's only goal of the match early in the second, dominating play on their way to a comprehensive win.
The result extends the Phoenix's winless run at AAMI Park, dating back to 2013.
City took the lead in the 34th minute, after a slick one-two, initiated by Andrew Nabbout, created a brief opening for Jamie Maclaren to sneak a shot past Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail.
The Phoenix might consider themselves unlucky not to have a penalty awardedduring extra time of the first half, when Oskar Zawada beautifully controlled a pinpoint long pass from Steven Urgakovic, but was shoulder-charged off the ball.
The video review came back clean, much to the dismay of Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay.
Just over three minutes into the second half, the Phoenix found their equaliser, as Ugarkovic blasted a shot from the top of the box that took a deflection and rocketed into the back of the net.
City responded immediately, with some poor defending on a seemingly harmless low cross leading to Maclaren's second of the night.
Marco Tilio made it 3-1 six minutes later, curling a clever shot past Sail.
Their predicament went from bad to worse in the 65th minute, when Joshua Laws was shown a red card for an ugly challenge that saw his boot connect with Nabbout's head.
Tiilo completed his brace in the 83rd minute, tapping home from a well-placed cross to rub salt into the Wellington side's wounds.
The fifth-placed Phoenix will try to get back on track against Brisbane Roar at home on Sunday.
Melbourne City 4 (Maclaren 2, Tilio 2) Wellington Phoenix 1 (Urgakovic)
