Perth Glory beat Wellington Phoenix to end 6-game winless run

Perth Glory overcame a lacklustre first half to end their six-game winless run, beating 10-man Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at nib Stadium.

Glory had not won since a 3-1 home win over Adelaide United on Nov. 18 but struggled in the opening half with the Phoenix dominating.

Wellington scored in the 11th minute through Rory Krishna, who scored thanks to a pass from Shane Smeltz and poor defending from Alexander Grant.

His shot was initially saved by Liam Reddy but the Glory keeper could not stop the ball trickling over the line.

It could have easily been two or three for Phoenix as they opened up the Glory defence on the counterattack and Kosta Barbarouses, Krishna and Smeltz all had good scoring chances.

However, it was a Perth equaliser through a cracking long-distance strike from captain Rostyn Griffiths on halftime that turned the contest.

Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images

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Perth came out a different unit for the second half, Andy Keogh seemingly scoring in the 49th minute but getting called back for an incorrect offside call.

Two minutes later he delivered a cross that Adam Taggart headed in to turn the game on its head, before Wellington were reduced to 10 men with a bizarre straight red card for Krishna from referee Shaun Evans. It had appeared an infringement worth a free kick at worst.

The sending-off then made life easier for the home side, who were able to comfortably hold on for the win.

Glory's fourth win of the season put them three points behind fourth-placed Melbourne City. Phoenix remain eighth, two points behind sixth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers.