Wellington have posted only their second win on the road this season with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle last night to propel them into third spot on the A-League ladder.
Winless on the road until their 1-0 win over Gold Coast last week, the Phoenix continued their resurgence away, inflicting a rare home loss on the Jets who had only gone down twice at Ausgrid Stadium in their previous eight matches.
Defender Manny Muscat scored the lone goal, the Phoenix leapfrogging Melbourne Heart to climb to third and only a point behind reigning premiers Brisbane.
The Jets, who had the chance to break into the top six with a win, remain second last.
The Jets came out looking to create chances early and it didn't take long with Sung-Hwan Byun forcing a save from Phoenix gloveman Mark Paston only three minutes in.
The visitors weren't letting the Jets have it all their own way with Chris Greenacre getting in on the action, 'keeper Ben Kennedy charging off his line to save his strike only minutes later.
Jets skipper Ryan Griffiths had the perfect opportunity to put the hosts in front early, getting on the end of a perfectly placed Byun cross, but his shot sailed way over the woodwork.
Newcastle midfielder Ben Kantarovski found a loose ball in the box moments later, but he was also unable to capitalise.
But Tarek Elrich had perhaps the best chance of the half, Paston doing well to save his powerful strike.
The Phoenix's Spanish import Dani Sanchez got the second-half action started with a shot right after the whistle.
Elrich again looked dangerous, keeping Paston busy with another right-footed strike.
But it was Wellington right-back Muscat who finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with his first goal of the season following good lead-up work from Ifill.
Kantarovski tried to level with a long-range effort minutes later, Paston saving the strike.
Sanchez had the chance to put the game beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when he got on the end of an Ifill cross but he missed an absolute sitter.
"That was a really frustrating night," an unhappy Jets coach Gary van Egmond said.
"I don't think we did a hell of a lot wrong.
"We're just a little bit devoid of ideas in that front third and unfortunately, you play against a team like Wellington and they'll make you pay and that's exactly what happened."
Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante said getting a victory over his former club made it even sweeter.
"It's always nice to get a win here," he said.
"I thought it was a really solid performance from the team.
"We had a gameplan ... you can have it all on paper but the boys have to execute and I thought everyone was outstanding today and executed it to perfection.
"Two wins on the trot away from home, it's a club record ... so the boys are buzzing."
