Kraev’s decisive strike, just 76 seconds in, followed a spellbinding sequence of 26 uninterrupted passes, showcasing the Phoenix’s tactical prowess. Despite Brisbane’s spirited response and several chances to level the score, Wellington’s defence, led by goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, remained impenetrable.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano praised his team’s performance amidst challenging circumstances due to the international break. “I’m delighted we got the three points,” Italiano said, highlighting the team’s resilience and strategic player rotations to manage fatigue. The victory matched Wellington’s best-ever points tally of 46, a target set by the team earlier in the season.

However, the match was not without controversy. Captain Alex Rufer’s late sending-off, deemed “a bit harsh” by Italiano, added tension to the final minutes. The red card, decided after VAR intervention, did not deter the Phoenix from securing a clean sheet and pressing forward.

Italiano also commended the squad’s depth, with strategic changes to the starting XI showcasing the team’s adaptability. Brisbane Roar, while creating opportunities, couldn’t capitalise, largely due to Paulsen’s heroics in goal and Wellington’s disciplined defensive structure.

As the final whistle neared, Wellington managed to create further chances, nearly extending their lead, but ultimately, Kraev’s early goal proved sufficient. The focus now shifts to a critical match against the Central Coast Mariners, a game that could potentially seal the premiership for the Phoenix.

The Wellington community and fans at Sky Stadium witnessed a team inching closer to a historic achievement, with anticipation building for what could be a landmark season for the Phoenix.

Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is bullish about the depth of his squad heading into the deciding five weeks of the Isuzu UTE A-League round-robin.

The Phoenix will be without regular right back Tim Payne and central defender Isaac Hughes for their Easter Sunday match against Brisbane Roar at Sky Stadium, after both suffered hamstring injuries before the international break.

And Italiano is preparing for the possibility talismanic striker Oskar Zawada won’t be able to play again this season because of a growth on his thigh.

But he isn’t concerned the Phoenix are going to run out of gas in their premiership push.

“I’ll be concerned when we don’t have 11 players that we can put on the park,” Italiano told media before training on Thursday. “As long as we have 11 players and boys that come off the bench that want to do a job for us, I’m not concerned.

“We’ve gone through this all season. At the beginning of the season everyone was talking about a lack of depth, and I think the boys have answered that quite well.

“We’ve had injuries all season [and] we’ve had to makeshift a lot of players into different positions and be very flexible in the way we think about our formations and the way we play. This is no different to any other challenge that we’ve had.

“We’ve travelled everywhere now in the A-League and there’s not many better than Porirua Park when the Yellow Fever are in the stands.” – Phoenix Coach Paul Temple.

“We’ve picked the team to go out and put a game plan together to try and win,” Temple told media after training on Thursday. “Everyone’s very determined to finish strongly, says Temple.

“I think it’s important that we finish in style. Give the fans something to cheer about and end our season on a good note.

“We’ve been treated to such a good atmosphere at Porirua Park all season. It’s…almost second to none.