Adelaide United are now top of the Isuzu UTE A-League after overcoming Melbourne Victory 3-2 in a thrilling Original Rivalry.
Melbourne Victory had the better of the early chances at Coopers Stadium and deservedly took the lead in the 18th minute as Ryan Teague clipped the ball beyond keeper Ethan Cox after some excellent link-up play from Bruno Fornaroli.
Victory went close to adding a second before Adelaide then dragged themselves back into the contest in the 31st minute through Stefan Mauk as the midfielder ran beyond the Victory backline before guiding a half-volley beyond keeper Jack Duncan.
The home side then went in happy at the break as a deflected own goal from Victory captain Roderick Miranda in first-half stoppage time meant Carl Veart’s side took a 2-1 lead.
Victory responded to going behind well and eventually found their equaliser in the 66th minute; Brazilian Clarismario Santos producing a magnificent diving header to power his side back into the contest.
However the home side weren’t pegged back for long and with a jumping home crowd behind them they re-took the lead just five minutes later as Ethan Alagich bagged their third from the edge of the box after his low shot deflected past Duncan and into the net.
The result – Adelaide’s first victory in this fixture in five attempts – sees Carl Veart’s side soar to the summit and they now sit a point clear of Auckland FC ahead of their top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday night.
As for Melbourne Victory, Arthur Diles’ side remain outside the top six, have now lost three of their last five matches and are without a win since Diles took charge.
Looking to continue their best start to a season since 2012-13, Adelaide United walked out at a packed Coopers Stadium knowing a win would see them go top of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Young goalkeeper Cox was given the nod in place of regular custodian James Delianov who pulled up sore after their win over Wellington but the 22-year-old was beaten early on.
Dropping deeper to get involved in the build-up, Fornaroli played a good ball into the path of Teague who, having run beyond the Socceroos forward, coolly dispatched the ball beyond Ethan Cox.
Thriving after their early goal Victory set about finding a second and saw a couple of half-chances go begging in the South Australian heat.
With Formula 1 favourite Valtteri Bottas watching on from the stands Adelaide looked for a way to get out of first gear and they duly found it in the 31st minute.
Peeling off the back of the Victory defence, midfielder Mauk timed his run to perfection and, having latched on to a clipped ball over the top, fired a half-volley beyond Duncan and into the back of the net.
With Coopers Stadium now rocking Ben Folami saw a fierce effort well-saved by Duncan who tipped the former Victory man’s shot over the bar.
But the momentum was with Adelaide and the Reds took the lead in first-half stoppage time thanks to an own-goal from Victory defender Miranda.
Attempting to clear a Pierias cross into the box, Josh Rawlins clearance flew straight into the sliding Miranda with the ball then ricocheting back beyond Duncan and into the net to give the Reds the advantage heading into the break.
Looking to pull themselves level early in the second-half, Brazilian winger Santos lifted a good chance over the bar when put through on goal by Zinedine Machach but he soon made amends.
A whipped delivery into the box from Daniel Arzani was meant for the head of substitute Nikos Vergos but while the Greek couldn’t connect with the ball Santos certainly could; flying in at the back post with a diving header to send the travelling fans wild in the 66th minute.
Victory’s lead didn’t last long though as central midfielder Alagich arrived at the perfect moment on the edge of the box to side-foot home Yaya Dukuly’s cutback to blow the roof of Coopers Stadium in the 71st minute.
With the clock ticking down Victory continued to throw everything they had at Adelaide in search of an equaliser and went close through Nishan Velupillay, however the Socceroo couldn’t steer his header on target from a late corner and the home side held on for a vital win.
