Adelaide United 2

Wellington Phoenix 0

The Ufuk Talay era is over at the Wellington Phoenix, after a 2-0 defeat to Adelaide in the elimination final on Friday night.

It continued a frustrating pattern for Talay’s team, who have fallen at the first playoff hurdle in three of the last four seasons.

They were hoping to take advantage of a recent form slump from the South Australian team – but an upset was always unlikely after Craig Goodwin opened the scoring in the 19th minute, before the Socceroos star sealed the win with a second-half penalty.

Adelaide managed the game well from there and were deserved victors, though Wellington had good opportunities in both halves, with Alex Rufer hitting the post from close range.

But Talay’s team lost their groove in mid-March and never really got it back, struggling to recapture their early-season form.

Friday was always going to be a tall order, as Wellington had won just four of 24 matches at Coopers Stadium.

Oskar Zawada was mostly well contained, while the delivery into the Polish striker wasn’t good enough.

Young defender Callan Elliott, who has impressed this campaign, had a match to forget. He was tormented by Goodwin on the flank, caught out badly for both goals.

The result continued Wellington’s finals drought, with five defeats in playoff matches since their last positive outcome in 2012.

The Phoenix weren’t terrible – but equally never reached any great heights and it was an anti-climatic way for Talay to bow out, with Oli Sail and Clayton Lewis among other departures.

After a promising beginning, with Zawada having an early chance, the Phoenix went behind in a disappointing manner. Elliott, who had made a nervy start, couldn’t clear a deep cross – only flicking it to Goodwin. The midfielder then turned inside to score with aplomb, though the failure of the nearby defenders to close down the shot will grate.

Curiously, it marked the third successive finals match under Talay where the Phoenix had conceded inside the first 20 minutes.

The visitors then endured a shaky period. They couldn’t deal with the Adelaide’s rapid switches of play and were relieved to see George Blackwood head wide from two good chances.

The Phoenix managed to ride the storm, under immense pressure, helped by some last-ditch defending, before they found some inspiration just before the interval. After Yan Sasse had flashed a long-range effort wide, Rufer hit the post from close range, after the ball fell to him from a corner, with the keeper out of position.

It felt like the kind of moment that can change games and so it proved

The Phoenix continued their momentum after the interval, as Adelaide sat back. Scott Wootton scuffed his effort from a promising position before substitute Bozhidar Kraev had a shot blocked from a handy position.

Wellington were building some momentum – but everything was undone with the disastrous second goal. They were caught out from an attacking corner, with Nestory Irankunda storming away on a fast break, before Goodwin panicked Elliott into a rash tackle, giving up the spot kick, which was coolly dispatched.

From there the game opened up. Wellington threw the kitchen sink – but Adelaide keeper Joe Gauci was equal to everything and Wellington’s set-piece delivery continued to be inaccurate – while an Irankunda run almost set up Adelaide’s third, as they cantered to the finish.

Adelaide United 2 (Craig Goodwin 19′, 67′ pen)

Wellington Phoenix 0

Halftime 1-0