Phoenix start NewYearwith stunning 3- 1 away victory

A festive season transformed into a bright new dawn for the Wellington Phoenix as their A- League revival continued with a Stein Huysegemsinspired 3- 1 upset of the Western Sydney Wanderers last night.

The Phoenix's third win in a row muted the competition's most vocally hostile fans and continued to silence doubters as the depleted playing roster made the ideal start to 2014 with only their second win over last season's runners- up in six meetings.

Derided after a series of misses – including a penalty against the Central Coast Mariners last month – Huysegems again emerged as the Phoenix hero by setting up the equaliser front.

He then made the game safe with a classy clip home from a Tyler Boyd cross with seven minutes remaining.

Boyd, a canny second half substitute for Kenny Cunningham, silenced the characteristically vocal Red and Black Bloc for the first time four minutes after Mark Bridge's

before

putting

them

in 62nd minute opener when he slid in to make contact with a neat Huysegems cross and push the ball past Ante Covic.

The Belgian, who scored the winners against Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart, crafted the go- ahead goal in the 78th minute when he dispossessed Aaron Mooy outside the area then headed goal bound before slotting the ball between Nikolai Topor- Stanley and Iacopo La Rocca and past a floundering Covic. Huysegems then benefited from an assist from Boyd, who crossed from the right flank for the Belgian to deftly direct the ball past Covic from close range to spark wild celebrations among a pocket of visiting fans.

The Phoenix next play the Central Coast Mariners in Wellington on January 12.