HAPPY NIX: Rolieny Bonevacia is congratulated by his Wellington Phoenix team-mates after scoring during their dramatic win over the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

The Wellington Phoenix snapped a four-game winless streak and claimed their most significant scalp of the A-League season with a pulsating, come-from-behind, 3-2 defeat of Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tonight.

Ernie Merrick's men twice fought back from one-goal deficits and then hit the lead for the first time in the 77th minute through their outstanding leading scorer Nathan Burns, who tapped in from a Michael Boxall assist.

The Phoenix hadn't won since the Asian Cup break but reclaimed fourth place on the ladder with a vital three points, now level with Adelaide United but behind on goal difference.

One point, let alone three, had seemed a pipe dream early on as the second-placed Victory repeatedly cut the visitors' defence to ribbons with pacy, sublime football.

The Phoenix dodged a bullet in the 17th minute, as Besart Berisha crashed a penalty off the post, but the Victory broke through for a deserved 1-0 lead in the 34th minute through an unlikely source in Scott Galloway.

The young fullback scored his first A-League goal in 41 games, his low drive nutmegging both Ben Sigmund and goalkeeper Glen Moss, whose view of the ball was impeded by his defender.

But, not for the first time in the match, the Phoenix displayed the skill and fighting qualities that mark them as a tricky finals opponent.

Dutch import Roly Bonevacia equalised in the 42nd minute with a spectacular, long-range free kick, which Victory keeper Nathan Coe got a hand to but could only parry into the goal.

Not normally a source of Phoenix goals, that made it two free kick strikes in two weeks, following Jason Hicks' lovely effort against the Jets.

The home side emerged the stronger following halftime words from their tough coach Kevin Muscat.

Former Phoenix and All Whites striker Kosta Barbarouses scored his fourth goal in four games, finishing a lovely movement which he also started.

Surging into the box, Barbarouses received a well weighted pass from Carl Valeri, took a touch then quickly used the outside of his boot to beat Moss for an excellent goal.

You thought that might break the back of the Phoenix, yet they only grew stronger.

Boxall – deputising for Louis Fenton (concussion) at right back – was left unmarked from a Bonevacia free kick and he made no mistake with a simple header for 2-2 in the 68th minute.

Merrick threw new recruit Joel Griffiths into battle and Boxall was prominent again as Wellington stunned the Melbourne crowd with the go-ahead goal.

The big defender shook off his marker and powered into the clear before weighing up his options and taking the right one – supplying Burns with the easiest of tap-ins.

The Phoenix then showed good composure to seal the deal and didn't look seriously threatened in the dying throes.

"We went into the game confident we could win here," Burns said.

"We're a top of the table team and I'm proud of the boys tonight. We're playing really good football and to take three points here, I think all the boys are pretty stoked."

The Phoenix now return home to host Adelaide at the Hutt Recreation Ground on Saturday.