A-League wrap: Mariners win in New Zealand

Central Coast Mariners edged Wellington Phoenix 2-1 in the A-League on Friday, while Melbourne Heart drew with Adelaide United.

Strike duo Bernie Ibini and Matt Simon netted for the Mariners after Chris Greenacre had briefly put the Phoenix on level terms at Westpac Stadium.

Ibini, 19, sparked life into an otherwise uninspiring contest early in the second half when he opened the scoring.

The Australia youth international got on the end of Simon’s enticing left-wing cross three minutes after the break.

Greenacre looked to have rescued a point for the Phoenix with a calm finish from Dani Sanchez’s precise through ball after 68 minutes.

But 10 minutes from full-time, Simon placed a low shot past goalkeeper Tony Warner from a Troy Hearfield cut-back.

The Mariners claimed their second successive win having inflicted defeat on Perth Glory last time out.

In the other game, Adelaide United came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Heart at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The visitors looked like they were headed for their first win of the season when centre-back Brendan Hamill struck an unlikely opener from outside the area.

But Heart were reduced to 10 men a quarter of an hour from the end when Simon Colosimo picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Adelaide winger Andwele Slory.

From the resulting free-kick, Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton saved Cassio’s effort, but midfielder Spase Dilevski was on hand to squeeze in the rebound.

The teams remain in the bottom two after both failed to convert their chances late on.