Stunning strikes from imports Yan Sasse and Bozhidar Kraev have lifted Wellington Phoenix to a 3-0 win over Western United, strengthening their grip on a spot in the A-League Men top six.
Kraev was the lead architect of Wellington's dominance at UTAS Stadium in Launceston on Friday night, playing a key role in two goals and scoring another in the rout.
The Bulgarian playmaker doubled the lead in the second half after Sasse's early opener.
Oskar Zawada rounded out the scoring, becoming the first Phoenix player to find the net from the penalty spot this season following the side's four previous misses.
The goals continued Wellington's run of scoring in every match throughout the campaign and a third clean sheet was the icing on the cake.
The result snapped a run of three matches without a win, including two straight defeats, and lifted the Phoenix to fifth spot.
"It was a complete performance," Wellington coach Ufuk Talay said.
"We were very good with the ball, we broke them down really well, played through the lines and created some good opportunities.
"Defensively we dealt with a few of their long balls that they tried to play over the top, so overall very happy, especially after the last two weeks."
It was another dagger in Western United's championship defence, with John Aloisi's side now having won just once in their last eight games.
They sit second from bottom - just two points ahead of Melbourne Victory, who have two games in hand - and are seven points outside the top six.
Aloisi conceded his side made it "too easy" for Wellington, who could have racked up a huge score if not for Western United goalkeeper Jamie Young's performance between the posts.
"We look like we're second-guessing ourselves, which is a shame because we know that we've got the ability and the quality to be better than that," Aloisi said.
"It wasn't good enough tonight."
Denied early by Young when played in by Kraev, Sasse grabbed his next chance with a strong finish to a sweeping end-to-end move in the 19th minute.
The Brazilian took another pass from Kraev, cut inside with two touches and smashed a powerful left-foot shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Kraev found the net himself in the 58th minute when he took possession just inside his own half and charged forward to curl home a sweet right-foot shot.
He then won the penalty when he was clumsily brought down by Tongo Doumbia and Zawada - who, like Sasse, missed from the spot last week - was successful this time despite Young getting a hand to the shot.
It was Western United's first loss in six matches at their 'home away from home' in Launceston.
