BILLED AS… The defending champs take on the new kids.

IN REALITY… The defending champs had a sketchy run into the season and had been dogged by rumours of in-fighting for much of the pre-season. For their part, Wellington went into the match as real dark horses with just a handful of meaningful matches behind them.

No one could have predicted the thriller to unfold. With two goals in the bag after an hour, Ernie Merrick thought his men were home but the Phoenix boys wouldn’t lie down and netted twice for a white-hot finish.

THE GOOD… Felipe’s late introduction for Phoenix sparked one the most inspirational comebacks in A-League history. The impressive crowd also played their part, with no less than 14,421 turning up to sing the house down. And guess what, they set a record in the process – the biggest crowd for a club match in the land of the long white cloud.

THE BAD… Both Ricki Herbert and Ernie Merrick will want to rein in their charges, after nine yellow cards were shown. In particular, Phoenix defender Cleberson flirted with being sent off more than once after getting his first yellow early in the piece.

THE UGLY… We’ve managed to have a fairly dive-free competition so far, but it looks like Wellington’s Daniel may be out to change all that. Let’s hope not.

THEY SAID WHAT… “I’ve played in some fairly big games with some pretty big crowds but to play in front of a bunch of Wellingtonians singing for their side, I’ll be honest with you, it sounded like we were in England. It was the same atmosphere as an English Premier League game.” Ross Aloisi may be getting just a tiny bit ahead of himself.

THE FALLOUT… Melbourne will have to recover after making the fatal of error of thinking they were home and hosed. Ljubo Milicevic copped a knee injury too, forcing him off after just 30 minutes.

Wellington Phoenix Glen Moss (Gk), Jeremy Christie (Felipe 64’), Tony Lochhead, Cleberson, Karl Dodd, Ross Aloisi (Cptn), Vaughan Coveny (Royce Brownlie 76’), Shane Smeltz, Michael Ferrante, Daniel, Steven Old
Bookings Steven Old 8’, Cleberson 18’, Daniel 63’, Ross Aloisi 70’
Goalscorers Daniel 78’, Shane Smeltz 84’

Melbourne Victory Michael Theoklitos (Gk), Kevin Muscat (Cptn), Daniel Piorkowski, Ljubo Milicevic (Matthew Kemp 32’), Grant Brebner, Daniel Allsopp, Archie Thompson (Adrian Caceres 78’), Joseph Keenan, Rodrigo Vargas, Carlos Hernandez (Kaz Patafta 58’), Leigh Broxham
Bookings Grant Brebner 20’, Ljubo Milicevic 25’, Daniel Allsopp 39’, Kevin Muscat 76’, Joseph Keenan 89’
Goalscorers Kevin Muscat 19’(penalty), Daniel Allsopp 60’

MATCHRATING 5/5