Three second half goals kept the Wellington Phoenix's A-League playoff hopes alive as they beat last year's titleholders Newcastle Jets 3-0 as Sydney FC's season came to a tragic end.

The Phoenix head into the last three matches of the regular season in fifth place, but the three competition points from Sunday's win has them just one point adrift of fourth-placed Queensland Roar.

The Phoenix had goalkeeper Glen Moss to thank for a series of whole-hearted saves that enabled them to head to the sheds 0-0 at halftime after they stuttered through the first half.

The game livened up after the break and the Phoenix hit the lead in the 62nd minute when Leo Bertos scored a somewhat fortuitous goal. In a scramble in front of the Jets goal, he managed to get a thigh on a Troy Hearfield cross and it trickled over the Jets goal line.

Five minutes later, Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz showed great foresight in noticing Covic was off his line and lobbed in a shot from just outside the box to put the local side in control

The last-placed Jets were unable to respond and Smeltz added the icing in the 86th minute with a penalty shot after Hearfield was brought down by a Jets defender.

Adelaide United returned to the A-League summit while also consigning former boss John Kosmina's Sydney FC to another week of uncertainty with a 2-0 win at Adelaide Oval.

Left winger Cassio opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season, passed home in added time at the end of the first half, and substitute Alemao made the result safe by netting artfully on the break as a desperate Sydney pushed forward.

That was enough to earn United their win over opponents who were undoubtedly committed yet lacking in the cutting edge required to breach the Reds defence.

Sydney's defeat gave them a quartet of losses from as many matches, and left them a forlorn six points out of the league top four with only three fixtures remaining.

A backward headed goal from defender Rody Vargas sealed a 2-1 win over Queensland Roar which temporarily took Melbourne Victory to the top of the A-League ladder.

Melbourne scored through Allsopp and Vargas while Socceroo defender Craig Moore netted for Queensland.

Central Coast Mariners further established their reputation as the A-League's kings of the late show in their vital win over Perth Glory.

Midfielder John Hutchinson's 80th-minute screamer handed his Mariners side a vital 1-0 win.

A-League Table

 Team    P    W    D    L    GF    GA    GD    Pts
01    Adelaide United    16    9    3    4    27    17    10    30
02    Melbourne Victory    17    9    2    6    31    24    7    29
03    Central Coast Mariners    18    7    7    4    32    24    8    28
04    Queensland Roar    17    7    5    5    25    19    6    26
05    Wellington Phoenix    18    7    4    7    22    27    -5    25
06    Sydney FC    18    5    5    8    27    29    -2    20
07    Perth Glory    18    5    4    9    25    36    -11    19
08    Newcastle United Jets    18    3    6    9    19    32    -13    15

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