The Costa Rican crashed a terrific first time finish across Phoenix keeper Glen Moss to give the home side a lead they richly deserved. Nicky Ward’s first goal for the club, teed up by Adrian Caceres, doubled the lead and youngster Kaz Patafta wrapped up matters with his first goal in Melbourne colours.

Melbourne dominated the first half and although Phoenix came into the game much more after the break, the closest they went was through a Steven O’Dor header which rattled the crossbar.

It was three wins in a row for the Victory and leaves them clinging on to the finals dream and praying for a Mariners win over fourth-placed Newcastle Jets on Saturday.

Goalscorer Ward said: “It was good to get my first goal for the club, especially at home. It’s a great way to finish the season. That’s three wins in a row, hopefully we can finish on four and it puts the pressure on Newcastle. They’ve got to go and get a result. If they don’t then it’s down to the last game.”

Melbourne went into this ‘win or bust’ fixture on the back of successive victories but with injury concerns. Skipper Kevin Muscat was included despite a thigh problem while Nick Ward also made it despite a groin concern. Sadly for coach Ernie Merrick he was without striker Danny Allsopp due to a virus. Costa Rican international Carlos Hernandez was handed a start after his impressive contribution last time out.

Visitors Wellington were without several experienced campaigners with Ross Aloisi, Tony Lochhead and Richard Johnson all suspended as they looked to put greater distance between themselves and bottom-placed Perth. Ricki Herbert’s men, adopting a 3-5-2 system, were boosted by the return of Brazilian favourite Daniel after a ban. He had to be content with a place on the bench though after returning from witnessing the birth of his son back in South America.

Former South Melbourne favourite Vaughan Coveny seized on an error by the clearly less than fit Muscat in the fourth minute but although he accelerated goalwards impressively, he was superbly shackled by Roddy Vargas – the ball eventually running out for a goalkick.

At the other end Hernandez took the ball off the head of strike partner Archie Thompson as the Socceroo looked to pounce moments later. A well worked move between Caceres and Thompson teed up Ward from 20 metres but his low strike was straight at Phoenix keeper Glen Moss. Caceres tried his luck from the edge of the area on 11 minutes with his shot deflecting off Karl Dodd for a corner, the home side enjoying a bright, lively start to proceedings.

Kristian Rees then tried to play in Ahmad Elrich down the right but overhit his pass while Seb Ryall made an important challenge inside the area to whip the ball off Coveny’s toes.

Melbourne broke swiftly and a terrific ball from Matthew Kemp put Caceres in the clear. Sadly for the Victory, the execution didn’t match the pass as the latter player blazed high and wide from the edge of the box.

The home side thought they had taken the lead on 16 minutes as Hernandez cut in from the right and slammed a powerful drive against the underside of the crossbar. As several Victory players claimed the ball had crossed the line Rees reacted smartly to head the loose ball clear with Thompson poised to net the rebound.

Rees was then forced to clear a Thompson cross as Ward waited to pounce with Hernandez then rattling the bar once again as he tried to catch out Moss on 20 minutes. Caceres then curled a right foot strike wide as Merrick’s men continued to dominate. In contrast the Phoenix had yet to get a single shot away on their hosts’ goal.

Daniel Vasilevski thumped over a pass from Ward on the half hour as Melbourne continued to press for the opener.

The opener Melbourne richly deserved arrived on 31 as Ward played the ball wide to Hernandez on his right. El Zorro cracked a beautiful first time shot across Moss and into the net via the inside of the left post – Melbourne’s 100th goal in the Hyundai A-League.

Victory doubled their lead on 35 with Caceres racing on to a wonderful ball from Vargas. He held off Steven O’Dor before cutting the ball back for Ward to rifle in his first goal for the club.

Vargas and Theoklitos did just enough to thwart Coveny on 38 as the Phoenix enjoyed a sudden flurry, perhaps realising the importance of finding a way back into the contest before half-time.

Victory held on to their two-goal lead though as the referee brought a very entertaining first half to a close.

Neither coach made any changes at the break as the opening moments of the second half continued to see the Victory press forward. Thompson dragged an effort wide of the left post on 50 minutes, moments after he had seemingly been brought down on the edge of the box by Dodd. Referee Peter Green was not interested though in awarding a free-kick.

At the other end Elrich got the better of Kemp and tried to chip Theoklitos but his effort was well off target, not that it spared Kemp a verbal lashing from his keeper.

Tim Brown became the first player to be cautioned after halting Caceres’ charge down the left on 54 while Kemp was furious that the official failed to penalise Dodd as he saw his own run checked.

Kevin Muscat and Shane Smeltz crossed swords briefly with Felipe also warned over a reckless challenge shortly before the hour mark.

Wellington finally forced their first corner on 60, the ball was only half cleared and Ferrante sent a low drive skidding just wide of the left post.

Felipe wasted a glorious chance after a poor clearance from Muscat shortly before Elrich made way for new dad Daniel.

Caceres warmed Moss’s palms with a strike from the left on 62 as the Victory looked for the third goal that would finally bury their visitors.

Dodd followed Brown into the book for a blatant body check on Thompson with Coveny then making way for debutant striker Greg Draper on 66 minutes.

Lia curled an effort straight into Theoklitos’ arms as the visitors began to enjoy something of a revival in the contest. Smeltz cut in from the left on 68 but the Victory keeper was also equal to his effort, the opportunity having been teed up by Ferrante.

Thompson couldn’t quite shake off O’Dor on 73 with the striker’s eventual shot well held to his left by Moss.

Merrick made a change moments later with Caceres making way for youngster Kaz Patafta – both players receiving a tremendous ovation from another 25,000 plus crowd.

Patafta got in a strike from a tight angle with Hernandez then blazing over with 13 minutes remaining.

The Phoenix were a whisker away from pulling a goal back on 80 minutes as O’Dor connected with a corner from the left and crashed a header against the crossbar. As the ball was half cleared Ferrante wasn’t too far off target with a scorching effort that whistled past the left post.

Thompson then missed an absolute sitter as the Victory broke following a Phoenix free-kick. Hernandez slid the ball to his left and with only Moss to beat, somehow put it wide.

It didn’t matter though as moments later O’Dor halted Thompson’s charge with a great challenge, the ball ran loose inside the area for Patafta and the youngster drilled home a terrific angled drive to make it 3-0.

Job done and a case of maybe, just maybe for Melbourne.