Gold Coast United's A-League finals hopes sank further after a late Tim Brown header delivered Wellington Phoneix a 1-NIL victory at Skilled Park.

It's lifted Wellington one point behind third-placed Melbourne Heart who fell to a 2-1 home loss to Perth Glory.

Miron Blieberg described the game as the story of Gold Coast's season told in one match. Chances came and went, his players ran themselves into the ground and luck deserted them at vital moments.