-
Gold Coast United's Shane Smeltz - Source: Photosport -
Related
Gold Coast United have gone from A-League heavyweights to the competition's biggest losers, thumped 6-0 by bottom side Wellington Phoenix on Sunday in the upset of the season.
Boasts of an undefeated season and the newcomers' initial air of invincibility have evaporated following the equal highest defeat in A-League history.
Gold Coast were outplayed from start to finish by the Phoenix, who produced arguably the best A-League performance of the season as Barbados international striker Paul Ifill dominated.
Ifill scored once, set up three more and was withdrawn with 25 minutes left to a standing ovation at Westpac Stadium.
United could have gone top of the table with victory.
Instead, they now share the record for the biggest defeat in A-League history and face a week of soul-searching and perhaps some stern words from multi-millionaire owner Clive Palmer on their return to the Gold Coast.
Adelaide United's 6-0 defeat by Melbourne Victory in the 2007 grand final is the only other six-goal defeat in A-League history.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was thrilled with his side's remarkable performance - four goals in 11 second half minutes sealing the victory.
"To me that's got to be one of the best performances in the A-League since it started against a team that have been very good this year," Herbert told reporters at Westpac Stadium.
"I was really pleased with how clinical we were.
"All around the pitch we were tight and tidy and we took the opportunities extremely well ... it was a real 90 minute performance."
The Phoenix clambered off the bottom of a congested A-League table with the victory, and instead sit at the fringe of the top six.
Herbert also had the last laugh over outspoken Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg, who suggested in the lead-up the New Zealand coach pay more attention to his looming World Cup qualifier against Bahrain than defeating the Gold Coast.
But Bleiberg was gracious in defeat, saying the Phoenix clearly wanted to win more than his players.
"Wellington were much better and deserved their moment of glory," he said.
"They played very well and wanted it more."
While Sydney FC climbed to the top of the table with a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar on Sunday night, champions Melbourne Victory moved to second after continuing their hold over bunnies Adelaide United.
The Victory registered their eighth successive win over the Reds with a 3-1 triumph at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
"I'd say it was our best 90-minute performance of the season," Merrick said.
"It was a very impressive performance, very crisp inter-passing the first half, and the second half we scored two goals."
In the round's other matches, North Queensland Fury surprised Perth Glory 2-1 in Townsville on Saturday night, while Newcastle Jets beat Central Coast 2-1 on Friday night.
