HIGH FLYER: Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo attempts to score a goal with a header in the final minutes during his side's 3-1 loss to the Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium.

Two late Tyler Boyd strikes mean the Wellington Phoenix will start 2015 from third on the A-League ladder.

Boyd's brace saw them beat Adelaide United 3-1 at Coopers Stadium tonight, in a result that confirms the Phoenix's status as this season's big improvers. The final few minutes were played at frantic pace and Boyd finally put the result beyond doubt in added time, when he caught Adelaide on the counter.

The Phoenix had begun the match promisingly. Roly Bonevcia was popping up in good places and doing useful things and, before long, Michael McGlinchey earned the game's first chance.

Getty Images UNDER PRESSURE: Wellington's Louis Fenton and Adelaide's Sergio Cirio of United compete for the ball.

But instead of threatening Paul Izzo's goal, McGlinchey's left-foot shot sprayed right across the six-yard box and out for a throw on the far side.

Jeremy Brockie was through on goal soon after but his first touch wasn't a great one and the opportunity was lost.

From there, the first half was all Adelaide. Awer Mabil got away down the right flank and had a shot hit the upright. Stand-in captain Bruce Djite blazed the rebound high over the bar.

The chances kept coming, though. Isaias and Pablo Sanchez both forced saves out of Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss and it was shades the previous match against the Western Sydney Wanderers, when Ernie Merrick's men were under pressure for large periods of the match.

In this instance the Phoenix would've been fairly happy to get to halftime with the score still nil-nil.

Adelaide continued to probe and it seemed as if a goal were inevitable. One eventually came, only at the end where it had appeared least likely.

Bonevacia produced a beautiful ball for Brockie to run onto, in the 55th minute. The South Africa-bound striker looked to have won a penalty, after being bundled over.

Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones waved play on and that's what Brockie did. Despite being on the deck Brockie kept battling away and was able to lay the ball off in the direction of Kenny Cunningham. The Costa Rican swept the ball into the empty Adelaide net and, after some consultation, Griffiths-Jones awarded the goal.

The Phoenix might've been unlikely leaders but nicking a, perhaps, undeserved goal is what playing away football is all about.

Adelaide remained the dominant side but Bonevacia's skill and vision meant the visitors were still dangerous on the break.

The Phoenix looked to be creating something again until Vince Lia gave the ball away softly in the middle of the park. The ever-threatening Mabil again took off down the right and his cross found Sergio Cirio unmarked at the back post.

He made no mistake and at 1-1 Adelaide finally had some reward for the quality football they'd played all match.

Things were getting quite heated between the teams, as Griffiths-Jones' control began to wane. Adelaide coach Josep Gombau wasn't endearing himself to the Phoenix and they responded in the best way possible when substitute Boyd restored their lead in the 77th minute.

Just on for Cunningham, Boyd buried a left-foot shot into Izzo's goal, which was the cue for the Phoenix bench give it to Gombau. The Adelaide coach had played a big part in a fracas that saw Manny Muscat shown a yellow card and could have no complaints about what came his way when Boyd scored.