Tim Payne of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the A-League Men - Wellington Phoenix v Macarthur FC at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Photo: Masanori Udagawa / Photosport
The Wellington Phoenix have won for the first time on the road in the 2024-25 A-League season with a 2-0 victory over Perth Glory.
Headed goals either side of halftime from an unlikely duo secured the second round win at HBF Park in Perth.
Centre back Scott Wootton put the Phoenix in front late in the first half before fullback Tim Payne doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half.
Coach Giancarlo Italiano said the goals were "perfect timing".
"I'm stoked. In the A-League I can honestly say that any team can beat any other team. It's also good to get the monkey off the back."
Italiano made just one change to side which started the season opening draw with Western United, with Sam Sutton back at left wingback in place of 18-year-old forward Nathan Walker, who moved to the bench.
New signing Stefan Colakovski was also named amongst the substitutes.
Perth had the first chance of the match in the 12th minute when captain Adam Taggart headed over at the back post after Abdelelah Faisal cleverly won a corner.
Taggart then attempted an ambitious strike from well outside the area, but Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi was alert and able to parry the shot around his near post.
Wellington's first real opportunity came in the 24th minute, when Payne fired in a low cross which just evaded Hideki Ishige before Sutton elected to pass rather than shooting himself and was unable to find a teammate.
Sutton was becoming increasingly involved, and the Phoenix took the lead in the 39th minute after his driving run drew a free kick just outside the Glory penalty area.
From the resulting set piece Ishige chipped a teasing ball to the edge of the Perth six yard box, where Wootton flicked his header past Oli Sail and into the corner of the net for his first A-League goal in two and a half years.
Just three minutes into the second half the Phoenix doubled their advantage, with Kazuki Nagasawa looping a left-wing cross to the back post where Payne ghosted in unmarked to head home.
It was the All Whites fullback's fourth A-League goal after he found the back of the net three times last season in his breakout campaign.
Perth nearly pulled a goal back instantly when Jarrod Carluccio's deflected cross-come-shot looked like it would find the bottom corner of the Wellington goal before Oluwayemi clawed the effort away to prevent a freak goal.
Former Phoenix midfielder Nicholas Pennington was next to come close for the home side, but his header in the 62nd minute was narrowly wide of the far post.
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