But the match ended in controversial circumstance with Reds skipper Travis Dodd sent off by referee Peter O'Leary seven minutes from time, then Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert sent to the stands by the referee.

The red card for Dodd was a harsh decision as replays showed that his contact with Vince Lia's head was purely accidental as he tripped over the Phoenix player on the ground.

It left the visitors a man down and grimly hanging on for a share of the spoils.

But from a Marco Rojas corner Sigmund rose above the defence to glance the ball home to the delight of the 14,108 strong crowd at AMI Stadium.

Adelaide had gone ahead thanks to a 14th-minute Sergio van Dijk header.

That was cancelled out by Tim Brown's goal a minute into the second half before the drama really began.

Aside from Dodd's sending off, O'Leary also booked Phoenix players Andrew Durante, Nick Ward and Chris Greenacre, while Adelaide had Marcos Flores and Robert Cornthwaite booked in the first half.

It was a very even first 45 minutes with van Dijk's header splitting the two sides as they went into the break.

Cassio floated the ball into the box from a free-kick and the Reds striker rose to flick it in off the post.

It was the Phoenix who had more shots on goal in the opening spell but they couldn't make them count with Ward blasting a couple over and Lia firing his effort straight at Eugene Galekovic.

Paul Ifill, who was closely marked by Iain Fyfe, also had a couple of half chances but squirted his first one wide off the side of his boot then turned and shot straight at the Adelaide keeper before finding the side netting with another attempt as the first half came to a close.

The second half had only been going a minute when Brown stole in to score Wellington's equaliser.

Ward's pass split the Reds defence and Sigmund's cross picked out the Phoenix midfielder who poked the ball home for his fifth of the season.

The home side mounted wave after wave of attack after that. Ifill botched a golden chance to put his side in front when he mis-hit a great ball into the box from youngster Rojas, who came on for Daniel in the 61st minute, which Fyfe inexplicably left.

Rojas was involved in several good attacking moves late in the game and once Adelaide were reduced to 10 men they were always fighting a losing battle as the Phoenix poured forward.

And it was Rojas' corner that picked out Sigmund who delivered with aplomb to earn his side a much-needed three points.

The result means Wellington are up to fifth on the A-League table on 22 points, while Adelaide remain second but miss out on the chance to close on leaders Brisbane after their draw with Melbourne Victory.

Wellington Phoenix 2 (Brown 46', Sigmund 90+')
Adelaide United 1 (van Dijk 14')
Crowd: 14,108 @ AMI Stadium