Melbourne Victory defeat Wellington Phoenix 3-0 to go top of A-League ladder

Melbourne Victory overpowered Wellington Phoenix 3-0 to claim top spot on the A-League ladder with just three games remaining.

A deadly first-half strike after 35 seconds from Gui Finkler gave Melbourne a 1-0 lead at half-time in Wellington on Sunday, but it was their clinical second spell which wrapped up the win.

Under pressure, Wellington's mistakes proved costly as they let in two goals in six minutes midway through the second spell; an own goal after 59 minutes was followed seven minutes later by Archie Thompson's ninth goal of the season.

The win is Melbourne's 13th of the season and seals top spot on a congested ladder where only three points separate the top five teams.

Although the Phoenix welcomed back striker Nathan Burns and midfield playmaker Michael McGlinchey from international duty, the midfield stocks were stretched through the absence of Vince Lia to injury and Albert Reira who was serving a one-match suspension.

And although Michael Boxall and Louis Fenton were back from their stint with the All Whites in South Korea, the back four took a hit with Ben Sigmund's late withdrawal with a quad strain.

Finkler's goal, his seventh this season, followed a double in last week's win over the Mariners. Besart Berisha's pace down the right created space at the back, and his well-weighted pass was finished in style by the Brazilian's powerful right foot.

Melbourne's sharp passing game kept Wellington constantly under pressure and Reira's calming and constructive midfield presence was sorely missed.

Restricted to the odd foray on the counterattack, Wellington's chances suffered when striker Joel Griffiths was stretchered from the field with a serious knee injury as the half-hour mark approached.

Wellington started the second half brightly with Fenton ranging down the right and finding Cunningham in the box. The Costa Rican's shot eluded `keeper Nathan Coe only to skitter past the far post.

But Melbourne continued to control the game's tempo with Berisha's through ball sent Finkler clear and left Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante's despairing tackle to stab the ball into the net as the hour mark neared.

Finkler's corner six minutes later set up the final goal with Moss parrying Fahid Ben Khalfallah's volley only as far as Thompson on the near post.