Sydney ease past Phoenix to maintain unbeaten run

Matt King/Getty Images

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Matt King/Getty Images

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A-League leaders Sydney FC made light work of Wellington Phoenix to extend their unbeaten record to 19 games.

Only eight matches now stand between the Sky Blues and their unprecedented "Invincibles" target after Thursday's emphatic 3-1 win lifted them 12 points clear at the top.

The Allianz Stadium pitch was in poor shape after last weekend's Sydney Sevens rugby event but Rhyan Grant, Bobo and Milos Ninkovic all chipped in to take their team's tally to a league-high 41 goals for the season.

The Phoenix, still stranded in eighth, played audaciously high against a side feared for their ruthless counterattack.

But if they fancied themselves as the Sky Blues' first conquerors they were dealt a harsh reality check less than three minutes after the opening whistle.

Ninkovic was instrumental, sending captain Alex Brosque blazing down to the byline where he crossed for Grant to divert a header past a diving Glen Moss.

Twenty minutes later, Grant turned provider in a superb piece of play started by Jordy Buijs.

Filip Holosko, Brosque and Bobo combined to split Wellington's defence with quick passes before the right-back unleashed for Bobo to score.

The shell-shocked visitors were fortunate not to concede a third goal before they had even regathered themselves, saved only by Brosque's skew wide.

That sparked the Phoenix into life and the untested Danny Vukovic was suddenly leaping high to tip over a Roy Krishna header.

But moments later, Sydney's goalkeeper was beaten at his near post when Alex Rodriguez converted a corner.

Wellington had clawed back into the game but their chances were less clear-cut -- Kosta Barbarouses came closest, before Holosko's toe poke was saved and Josh Brillante rammed an bullet into the post from 25 metres.

Brillante orchestrated Sydney's third goal, pouncing on a poor clearance and setting up Ninkovic, who wrong-footed Andrew Durante and scored in the far corner.