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It was an even game throughout the entire match with both sides having legitimate claims to feel as though they deserved the win.
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The Victory’s first and third goals cost the side dearly with experienced campaigner Nigel Boogard and skipper Eugene Galekovic were both guilty of making serious errors that resulted in the Victory getting back into the game.
Not even a Sergio Cirio hat-trick and a half time lead could prevent the Victory from getting the points as they consolidated their position in the top four of the table.
The home side came back from trailing twice before netting three times in the second 45 to take the three points against United for the second time this season.
Matches between these two fierce rivals are usually heated affairs and this one was no different. Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones gave away 36 fouls during the match with eight yellows being dished out.
Despite the rough and tumble nature of the game, it was a free flowing match with both sides looking capable of doing damage while on the ball.
It was a dream start for Adelaide who opened the scoring in only the third minute as Cirio got behind the Victory defence to get the match off to a rocking start.
Fabio Ferreira made the goal possible with his dangerous cross being left alone by Bruce Djite to give Cirio an easy finish.
The lead however lasted all of nine minutes with Gui Finkler netting in the 13th minute to restore parity.
It was a goal designed from a defensive mistake as Boogard made a mess of looking to play the ball out of defence with his errant pass only going as far as Archie Thompson who found Finkler on the top of the box to fire off a perfectly placed shot to beat Gallekovic in the United goal.
Chances were few in far between for the rest of the first half for the Victory as United looked comfortable playing their possession based brand of football.
Adelaide did manage to take a well-deserved half time lead with Cirio again got the better of Nathan Coe to restore the visitors lead.
Neat play between Djite and Cirio allowed the goal to happen as Djite under some defensive pressure put in a delightful pass to put CIrio clean on goal who chipped Coe to put another one in the net.
If the first half belonged to Adelaide, the second certainly belonged to the Victory as the home side not only levelled the scores early in the second half but also took the lead in a dominate second half display.
Finkler got his second of the evening to level the scores on 56 minutes with himself and Leigh Broxham combining well to allow the Brazilian to get on goal to put one past Galekovic’s near post.
The Adelaide custodian was largely at fault for the Victory’s third with the veteran ‘keeper coming well off his line to meet a Troisi through ball only to make a mess of the attempted clearance, gifting Thompson an open net to further dent Adelaide’s hopes of taking anything from the game.
Kosta Barbarouses got in on the act in the 74th minute as the usual suspects of Troisi and Finkler once again had a say on the goal.
The Victory were made to sweat it out for the last eight minutes of the game as Cirio completed his hat-trick to spark hope of an Adelaide revival.
That wasn’t the case as the Victory held on for another memorable win over Adelaide.
It wasn’t all smiles for the Victory however. On loan Celtic man Tom Rogic took a knock on his ankle from, of all people, his own team mate Broxham and may have a spell on the sidelines as a result.
Despite that Victory manager Kevin Muscat was upbeat on the issue.
“I don’t know the full extent. I’m optimistic it’s not too bad.”
With a crucial ACL game overseas this Wednesday the timing of Rogic’s injury could not be any worse, but Muscat still holds hope he will line up against Guangzhou Evergrande for the mid-week fixture.
“Again, I’m optimistic, the games four days away. We’ve got a very competent medical staff here, if there’s any chance they will get him right they will.”
Muscat praised his side for once again coming back from behind to claim the win.
“This is the third week in a row we’ve come from behind (to win).
“The boys showed a great deal of belief tonight and executed what was asked of them.”
Even though he watched his side squander a great opportunity to win this match, Adelaide manager Josep Gombau liked what he saw out of his men.
“Today was a good game for everybody. I think my team played well. I am satisfied with the work that the players did.
“Normally, when you score three goals away you win. But today we make mistakes and from these mistakes we lose the game.
“I’m am so, so satisfied with my team. They kept the ball a lot, we created chances and we scored three goals away against a very good team. It’s just today we make two mistakes.”
This match just showed how fine the line football between winning and losing truly is.
If not for those defensive errors by Adelaide the result could have been much different with all the praise heaped on Cirio for his outstanding hat-trick performance.
That’s not that case with Boogard and Galekovic’s mistakes hogging the headlines and Victory enjoying the spoils of a hard fought win.
The Victory won’t mind at all however as they can notch another piece bragging rights over their interstate foes and can enter the busy ACL schedule knowing they have a top four spot safely in their grasp.
Melbourne Victory: 1. Nathan COE(GK), 2. Pablo CONTRERAS, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Nick ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN(C), 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Gui FINKLER. 10, Archie THOMPSON, 14. James TROISI, 21. Tom ROGIC, 24. Scott GALLOWAY
Bench: 20. Lawrence THOMAS(GK), 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 13. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 24. Jesse MAKAROUNES
Adelaide United: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC(GK)(C), 3. Nigel BOOGARD, 4. Jonathan MCKAIN, 5. Osama MALIK, 8. ISAIS, 9. Sergio CIRIO, 10. Marcello CARRUSCA, 11. Bruce DJITE, 14. Cameron WATSON, 21. Tarek ELRICH. 22, Fabio FERREIRA
Bench: 20. Paul IZZO, Michael MARRONE, 7. Jeronimo NUEMANN, 19. Jake BARKER-DAISH, 23. Jordan ELSEY