Record-breaking Phoenix hammer Mariners in crazy 10-goal bonanza

Records tumbled as Wellington Phoenix rocketed to fourth with their largest ever Hyundai A-League victory in a scarcely believable 8-2 thumping of Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.

Roy Krishna and Sarpreet Singh both grabbed braces as the Phoenix, who are now five points clear of seventh, struck four goals in both halves in what ended as the equal-highest scoring match in the competition's history.

The bottom-placed Mariners scored twice after the interval to give the home fans something to cheer, but have now been on the receiving end of this scoreline twice in the space of 12 months.

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Krishna lit the fuse on Phoenix’s flying start by breezing to the byline and delivering a cut-back which defender Sam Graham turned into his own net in the eighth minute.

The in-form Fiji forward did it all himself four minutes later, racing onto Antony Golec’s long clearance and deftly lobbing Ben Kennedy.

David Williams made it three inside 21 minutes, converting at close range with his left foot, and Krishna coolly added a fourth - his 14th of the campaign - in first-half stoppage time following Max Burgess’ brilliant through ball.

Phoenix refused to offer mercy after the interval as Liberato Cacace, star playmaker Singh and Louis Fenton piled on the pain in an incredible three-goal, eight-minute period.

The Mariners finally responded through an unlikely source when Jack Clisby curled a fine strike into the bottom far corner off his unfavoured right foot, before the on-loan Stephen Mallon reduced the deficit back to five via a sweet free-kick from just over 20 yards out in the 69th minute.

But they were susceptible every time Wellington ventured forward and, after the post denied Krishna a hat-trick, Singh completed the rout, making the most of substitute Cillian Sheridan’s unselfish lay-off.

The emphatic triumph ended the away side’s four-game winless streak and lifted them above Adelaide United and Melbourne City, having condemned Central Coast to the same level of defeat they suffered against Newcastle Jets in the final round of last season. 

See how the match unfolded in our LIVE BLOG below!