Classy second-half puts Reds six clear

Three goals in six minutes have put Adelaide United six points clear at the top of the A-League as they turned on the class in the second half to run all over the Wellington Phoenix at a wet Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.

The Phoenix are still yet to win away from home this year, while Adelaide are yet to lose anywhere. It looked a tough ask for the Phoenix before kickoff but they started the better of the two sides. Wellington looked sharper than the home team and were winning plenty of the loose ball.

Pavlovic should have put the visitors ahead on fifteen minutes after a bustling run and super ball by Manny Muscat put him briefly one on one, but Daniel Mullen came back at the young Australian striker to knock him off the chance.

Bertos’ pace was regularly causing Adelaide problems. He played Pavlovic down the right flank who fired a dangerous ball across the six yard box with Ifill waiting. Mullen was the man for Adelaide again with some good defending.

With ten to go Adelaide burst into life and only a last ditch tackle by Durante stopped Pantelis from scoring against the run of play.

Moments later some great football by Wellington gave Hearfield and Pavlovic the chance to link up down the right. Greenacre’s near post flick was brilliantly saved by Gaelacovic.

Flores had been almost anonymous for Adelaide but with five to go a quickly taken free kick saw him in behind the sleeping Phoenix defence. He should have scored but Paston saved well with his legs.

Half time came and it was an unsatisfying break for the home side. The Phoenix were the better side for at least the first half an hour, although the Reds restored parity in the later exchanges and had good chances of their own.

United started the second half much better than they did the first. Pantelis got to the byline and his brilliantly dinked cross was inches over van Dijk’s head six yards out.

On the hour mark Pantelis had a brace of chances. He headed over from the penalty spot initially, then burst into the box minutes later, but couldn’t bend his shot into the far corner from a great position.

With twenty to go the pressure was well and truly piling on the Phoenix. Paston was forced into a spectacular save and van Dijk headed over from the resulting corner.

The Phoenix had been repeatedly warned and in the 71st minute van Dijk struck. Pantelis drove down the left and whipped in a pinpoint cross. Van Dijk’s header was similarly perfect and clipped the underside of the crossbar on the way in. It had been coming and the second-half version of the Reds looked good value for their lead.

Less than a minute later it was all over for the Phoenix. Travis Dodd burst down the right hand side, cut into the box and rolled the ball across for Flores. The Reds’ number ten took the ball in his stride and lifted it coolly over Paston.

It got worse for the Phoenix. Some woeful defending in the 77th minute saw a long ball drift over everyone, Travis Dodd’s pace took him one on one with Paston and his thumping finish made it three.

It could have been more in the time remaining but Adelaide were content with the three goals and three points. They’re now thirteen without loss – a new A-League record – and find themselves six points clear at the top of the table. Wellington have the bye next week which will only give them even longer to think about the statistics now piling up about their road form.

Adelaide (4.5) are far and away leaders in the A-League market on Betfair while Wellington (17) are a far away 8th. Remember that The Football Sack readers get a $50 free bet when they join up to Betfair through the link below!

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