United coach Miron Bleiberg's cocky midweek taunts against Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert were thrown back in his face in a devastating display by the New Zealand-based side.

Phoenix went into the second half already one-nil up after a sizzlling strike from Daniel after 28 minutes.

But Gold Coast emerged with a change of goalkeeper after Jess Vanstratten was forced out the game with back strain - and his replacement Scott Higgins then endured a nightmare spell between the sticks.

United went to pieces and allowed Phoenix to dominate with Tim Brown leading the charge, scoring  just three minutes into the second half.

That was swiftly followed by a second from Daniel five minutes later then a goal from Chris Greenacre within 60 seconds and a fifth from Paul Ifill after another five minutes.

Phoenix took their foot off the pedal and concentrated on keeping their clean sheet until six minutes from time when they finally added a sixth to the tally with a stunner from sub Troy Hearfield.

In reality the home side could have had more, with Ben Sigmund having a first-half effort come back of the crossbar and Ifill unlucky not to open the scoring inside the first two minutes.

Instead, after dominating the first half, it had to settle for a 1-0 half-time lead. But unlike in previous weeks when Phoenix have failed to hold onto their advantage, they put Gold Coast to the sword.

Both coaches made just one change to their respective starting line-ups from last week with Manny Muscat returning at right back for Phoenix and midfielder Zenon Caravella coming in for striker Tahj Minniecon for Gold Coast.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert had hinted earlier in the week that Chinese Under-23 striker Jiang Chen might get a start up front with Greenacre but Daniel's recovery from a knee injury meant Chen started on the bench and Ifill partnered his fellow Englishman up front and the moved clearly paid off.

Shane Smeltz, in his first match in Wellington since moving across the Tasman, was jeered by the crowd whenever he touched the ball.

But those touches were few and far between as Gold Coast saw little of the ball and when Smeltz did get involved, he was quickly closed down by Andrew Durante and Sigmund.

Phoenix started brightly with Ifill missing a super chance in just the second minute. Kristian Rees then made two important clearances under pressure before, in a rare foray into the Wellington half, Jason Culina fired his free-kick straight at Mark Paston.

Rees was then injured going for a 50-50 ball with Daniel and was replaced by Matt Osman on 23 minutes. The pressure finally bore fruit for the home side in the 28th minute with Daniel slotting home the opening goal.

Defender Tony Lochhead, in his 50th game for Phoenix, put Ifill through to the byeline and the Englishman crossed the ball into the six yard box for the onrushing Brazilian.

Phoenix could have doubled their lead minutes later when Ben Sigmund rose above the defence to connect with a Bertos corner but the defender saw his effort rattle the crossbar and the home side had to be content with a 1-0 half-time lead.

Phoenix didn't take long to put the game beyond the reach of Gold Coast though, with four goals put past substitute goalkeeper Stuart Higgins in 11 minutes.

Higgins was introduced at half-time and was picking the ball out of the back of his net in the 48th, 53rd, 54th and 59th minutes as the Phoenix rediscovered their mojo.

Firstly a pinpoint accurate ball from Ifill close to the halfway line forced Higgins to rush well outside his area but he was beaten to the ball by Brown, who rounded him and calmly slotted home for his second goal in as many matches.

Ifill was the provider again for Daniel's second, a simple tap-in, before the 6,571 crowd broke into huge cheers when Greenacre shrugged off the attentions of Michael Thwaite to slot the ball past a hapless Higgins a minute later.

It was Greenacre's first goal since the 1-1 draw with Brisbane in August. After assisting in three goals, Ifill then made it five for the home side when he held up the ball well, turned and fired it home.

The home side wasn't done though and substitute Troy Hearfield fired in the sixth to round off Phoenix's best ever win

Wellington Phoenix 6
(Daniel 27' 52', Brown 47', Greenacre 53', Ifill 58', Hearfield 81)
Gold Coast United 0