Interim Phoenix coach Chris Greenacre (right) greets former Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay, now with Sydney FC.
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Sydney FC are third on the A-League standings, just three points behind second-placed Auckland FC, after dispatching Wellington Phoenix 1-0 in the capital.
Sydney struck immediately after halftime, with Ben Garuccio passing to centreback Alexander Popovic unmarked in front of goal.
Popovic made no mistake, with the the unlikely goalscorer slotting the ball into the net in the 49th minute.
In the physical encounter, Sydney winger Joe Lolley went down with a lower leg injury, after receiving the ball in counterattack.
He was subbed off in the 57th minute, unable to play on.
Wellington Phoenix hoped interim coach Chris Greenacre’s approach would spur the side to at least some competition points.
The home side’s best attacking chance came from Corban Piper inside the first 20 minutes.
He broke the line brilliantly, but the Sydney keeper Harrison Devenish-Meares came up with the significant save.
The Phoenix remain at the bottom of the ladder, with Newcastle Jets at the top, two points clear of Auckland FC.
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