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The Phoenix were 1-0 up at half-time however a red card to Ben Sigmund and some questionable offside calls allowed the Reds to take a stranglehold of the match in the final 45 minutes.
At the end of the first half Jeremy Brockie was denied a goal which would’ve given the New Zealand side a commanding 2-0 lead. After Jeronimo Neumann’s 55th minute equaliser the referee’s flag stayed down for centurion Cassio to give United the go-ahead goal.
Sigmund was shown a straight red card for a foul on Neumann who was one-on-one with ‘keeper Mark Paston. The send-off signalled the end of Wellington’s chances as Neumann’s second of the match in the 85th minute killed off the game.
Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert was unhappy after the match and claimed the league needs more consistency in its officiating.
“All we ask for is a fair and equal line across the board,” Herbert said.
“At the end of the day we have got an opinion and sometimes we can't voice it and I think that is to be respected.
“If (Jeronimo) hasn’t dived then fine we all move on. If he has then maybe there’s a chance to make a bit of a statement here,” he said.
United coach John Kosmina was giving nothing away post-match but felt it was a difficult decision for the official to make.
“Sometimes referees make decisions you agree with and sometimes they make decisions that you don’t,” Kosmina said.
“Looking at the replay it was a hard one to call. “[The referee] was in a better position than I was, probably a better position than the cameras because he was right behind it,” he said.
Herbert was left to rue what could have been as he witnessed his side surrender a 1-0 lead after looking the better side as the first half came to a close.
According to Herbert, “that’s football”.
“It’s intriguing, it can be a great game or it can hurt you at times,” he said.
Adelaide’s cult-hero Cassio celebrated his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance with just his seventh goal for the Reds.
The left-back put Adelaide 2-1 up in the 68th minute and Kosmina said he was pleased for the recently naturalised 32-year-old.
“I think he had a great game and it’s great that he scored in his 100th game,” Kosmina said.
“Last week he was a little bit quiet and I think this week he was very very comfortable.
“He’s been a great servant to the club. I’m happy for him that he got a goal to celebrate his 100th game,” he said.
While Cassio has only managed seven goals in his 100 league games, United’s Argentine import Jeronimo Neumann has started life as a Red in spectacular fashion with two assists and three goals in his first four domestic appearances.
Kosmina was full of praise for his forward and the cutting edge he’s capable of providing.
“(Jeronimo’s) goals were great, his two finishes were class,” Kosmina said.
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Goal(s): Huysegems 42’ (1-0), Neumann 55’ (1-1), Cassio 68’ (2-1), Neumann 85’ (3-1)
Adelaide Starting XI: Galekovic (gk) (c), Malik, Fyfe, Cassio, Carrusca, van Dijk, Vidosic, Golec, Bowles, Ramsay, Neumann.
Subs: Djite, Watson, Ferreira, Hall (gk).
Wellington Starting XI: Paston (gk), Muscat, Lochhead, Smith, Bertos, Ifill, Huysegems, Brockie, Fenton, Sigmund, Durante (c).
Subs: Totori, Boyd, Lia, Moss (gk).
Crowd: 8497
Referee: Jarred Gillett