His 72nd minute strike - on his starting debut for the club - was pure class as he worked a neat one-two with Chris Greenacre before rifling the shot into Liam Reddy's top right-hand corner.

Coach Ricki Herbert predicted it would be in line for goal-of-the-season accolades and there was no doubting the importance of the strike as the win kick-started Wellington's season after back-to-back losses in Australia.

"It was a great strike. There wasn't much Rocket (Reddy) could do other than watch it go in. It was beautiful," enthused Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante.

The goal was the highlight of an otherwise gritty game between two teams struggling to replicate their impressive form of last season.

After a goalless first half, where chances were few and far between for either side, the deadlock was broken in the 50th minute when Sydney striker Bruno Cazarine conceded a penalty for tugging the shirt of Greenacre as the players jostled for position in the box.

There seemed to be little in it but it was the breakthrough Wellington needed and Paul Ifill, who made a return to form after a couple of lacklustre performances, made no mistake from the spot.

"The ref warned him," Durante said. "The ref told (Cazarine) to let him go. The ball came in and he didn't let him go so it's a penalty."

Cazarine made amends with an equaliser in the 67th minute but it wasn't enough for the visitors who remain winless after six games and rooted to the foot of the table.

"We've been under the pump the last couple of weeks from the press and we just wanted to make sure we turned it around at home," said the Phoenix captain.

"It was never going to be easy. They are a top team at the bottom of the table so they are desperate for points.

"They were going to come and throw everything at us and they did and we stood strong and got the win so it was fantastic for us."

Wellington now face games against Victory and Heart in Melbourne in the coming week.

Durante, who hurt his left ankle early in Saturday's game, was cautiously optimistic of his chances of being available for Wednesday's game against Ernie Merrick's side.

"We'll assess it tomorrow. I'll travel with the team and I should be all right to play with the team on Wednesday, hopefully," he said.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston (neck) and midfielder Vince Lia (hamstring) remain in doubt but Jade North, who met his new team-mates for the first time on Saturday, will make the trip across the Tasman.

"Vinnie is probably a little bit more marginal than Mark. Ideally if we can take both that would be good," said Herbert. "Jade will come into the squad and will travel with us as well.

"It's going to be a test to play on Wednesday and back up on Sunday. We throw the dice and see how we go. We've got some depth in the squad so if we need to make changes we can. But we'll see what happens."