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A-League Review: Grant goal sinks plucky Phoenix as Maclaren strikes twice for victorious City
Goals from Australia internationals Rhyan Grant and Jamie Maclaren helped Sydney FC and Melbourne City to wins in Sunday's A-League action.
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.