Western United have vaulted back into outright second on the A-League Men table after dispatching the Wellington Phoenix 4-1, piling more pain on the struggling Kiwi outfit.
Outscoring their opponents 10 goals to two across a three-game winning run, Saturday evening's win at Ironbark Fields moved United on to 35 points, one clear of third-placed Melbourne City and just five back of league leaders Auckland.
The Phoenix had barely had a chance to get their bearings in Melbourne's west before they found themselves trailing, Rhys Bozinovski redirecting an Angus Thurgate corner off his shoulder to take the lead after just 128 seconds.
An early goal banked, United took control and cruised through the remaining 87 minutes, doubling their advantage when Hiroshi Ibusuki pounced on a blocked cross in the 33rd minute, and tripling it when Riku Danzaki teed up Matthew Grimaldi in the 51st minute.
John Aloisi's side further padded their margin in the 62nd minute when Danzaki combined with Noah Botic before finding an open Grimaldi for another goal.
Though pegged back by a late Nathan Walker goal, the heavy margin moved United's goal difference to +12, the second best in the league.
But while United are soaring, the Phoenix's season is going up in flames.
Saturday's defeat was their fourth in a row and left them marooned in 11th spot on the table, their points total closer to 12th-placed Perth Glory than the top six.
With Perth the only side to have scored fewer goals than Giancarlo Italiano's side this season, Wellington were already down 4-0 by the time they registered their first attempt on target.
Nonetheless, 19-year-old substitute Walker made the most of it, capitalising on an error from Tomoki Imai to run on to a ball played over the top by Tim Payne and firing a consolation score behind Matt Sutton.
