Adelaide United failed to close the gap on A-League leaders Brisbane Roar as Ben Sigmund's stoppage-time header saw them lose 2-1 at Wellington Phoenix.

Sergio van Dijk gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute at AMI Stadium when he nodded in Cassio's free-kick. Tim Brown levelled at the start of the second half when he converted Sigmund's cross before Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd was sent off for making contact with a prone Vince Lia.

Sigmund then added further misery for Adelaide when he headed in Marco Rojas' corner in injury time. United now trail Brisbane by seven points but have two games in hand.

Elsewhere, Jason Culina's double helped Gold Coast United down Melbourne Heart 3-0 at Skilled Park. The Gold Coast skipper created the first for Bas van den Brink when he picked him out from a corner and Van den Brink headed home four minutes before half-time.

Culina doubled the hosts' lead from the spot in the 58th minute after Michael Beauchamp brought down Bruce Djite in the box before adding his second 13 minutes from the end when he finished off Djite's low cross.