Sydney FC has moved to second spot on the A-League ladder with a controlled 2-1 win over the Phoenix in Wellington.
The win secures a week off for the Sky Blues before they host a home semi-final, leaving the Phoenix in fourth place to host an elimination play-off against Melbourne City next weekend.
The win also continued Sydney's season-long unbeaten run away from home and was set up by clinical first half goals to Bernie Ibini and former home-town hero Shane Smeltz.
Wellington fought back in the second half with a goal from Michael Boxall less than a minute after the restart.
But despite creating numerous chances, Wellington could not find the equaliser.
Sydney was unrattled by the late withdrawal of golden boot leader Marc Janko through injury, with the pace of Ibini and Chris Naumoff dominating the midfield.
Skipper Alex Brosque and Smeltz also impressed and provided plenty of options in the front third.
The Phoenix again spurned a gilt-edged early chance when referee Strebre Delovski pointed to the spot after Ibini-Isei chopped down Michael McGlinchey after just 10 minutes.
Roly Bonevacia stepped up to the spot but skewed his shot wide, with Ibini making Wellington pay three minutes later.
Set loose on a storming run down the left, the pacey striker turned Boxall inside out before slamming the ball home.
Former Phoenix favourite Smeltz doubled Sydney's lead after 30 minutes, stepping up to the spot and coolly converting a penalty after Albert Reira brought down Naumoff.
Wellington halved the deficit barely a minute into the second half, working a smooth variation to score for the first time all season off a corner.
The decision to go short worked a treat with Burns hauling back a cross for Boxall's poised finish which galvanised the crowd of 13,248 back into full voice.
Brosque almost silenced them in the 63rd minute when he broke clear to confront Lewis Italiano one-on-one.
But the stand-in keeper stood strong and made a point-blank save.
Wellington pushed hard right to the final whistle but could not repeat the heroics of the previous week's 95th-minute winner against Central Coast Mariners.
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