Wellington Phoenix's slim chances of making the A-League playoffs were extinguished when Sydney FC scored two late goals to win 2-0.

The result allowed Sydney to draw level with Queensland Roar and Central Coast at the top of the table, although both those teams have the opportunity to go ahead in matches later this weekend.

The first Sydney goal came in the 79th minute, when Terry McFlynn - in his 50th A-League appearance - backheeled an innocuous ball from Utuk Talay and any Phoenix chance in the match disappeared when Alex Brosque scored skilfully four minutes later.

He took a high ball into the danger zone from Talay on his left foot and glided it past goalkeeper Glen Moss.

Despite the best efforts of Vaughan Coveny, who caused the Sydney defence plenty of headaches, too many Phoenix crosses failed to find their mark and too many shots at goal lacked sufficient intent to trouble Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton.

The frustration for the Phoenix boiled over in the last few minutes when usual captain Ross Aloisi brought down Talay in a crude sliding tackle.

He was shown a red card by referee Ben Williams barely eight minutes after appearing from the substitutes bench.

The Phoenix had the better of the early exchanges, Bolton called upon four times in the first 27 minutes to field shots, but they all lacked enough sting to cause him any trouble.

Sydney got more into the game in the second quarter, but their problems were similar. While Steve Corica proved elusive in midfield, there was no finishing polish.

In the 37th minute Kristian Rees let fly with a shot inside the Sydney penalty area, but it hit Talay on the legs and Ahmad Elrich couldn't ram home the rebound.

Sydney's best first-half chance came just before the break when midfielder McFlynn put through a great ball into the Phoenix danger zone, but Ruben Zadkovich's header lacked sufficient power to trouble Moss.

Moss was in the action again immediately after the break when he saved a penalty shot from Talay low to his left.

It had been granted after Richard Johnson deflected a defensive ball on to his hand.

It was the Phoenix's last home game for the season. They next play Melbourne next Friday and the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on January 19.

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