A-League Review: Grant goal sinks plucky Phoenix as Maclaren strikes twice for victorious City | OneFootball

Rhyan Grant's first A-League goal in over two years gave Sydney FC a narrow 2-1 victory over an unlucky Wellington Phoenix, who had Liberato Cacace sent off.

Wellington looked the more likely team to snatch a winner after equalising through Ulises Davila in the 69th minute but Socceroos defender Grant dug the Sky Blues out of trouble on Sunday.

The right-back looped in a 77th-minute free-kick delivered by Brandon O'Neill, scorer of Sydney's scrappy first-half opener, to put Steve Corica's men level on six points with Western Sydney Wanderers ahead of next weekend's derby.

Wellington – who were without new signing Gary Hooper – registered 23 shots at Leichhardt Oval but ended the match empty handed and down to 10 men following a VAR review of Cacace's poor challenge on Anthony Caceres.

Earlier, Jamie Maclaren's first-half brace led Melbourne City to a narrow 2-1 win against Adelaide United at AAMI Park.

Riley McGree halved the margin after the hour and later squandered a good opportunity for a second as City clung on for their maiden A-League victory under Erick Mombaerts.