Melbourne slaughter Adelaide to go top

RECORD-8-IN-A-ROW

Melbourne Victory have defeated Adelaide 3-1 for a record 8th time in a row to go top-of-the-table in front of just over 21,000 at Etihad Stadium on Friday Night.

In a forgettable night for Adelaide, against their arch rivals, Matthew Leckie's performance was the only shining light for a club now at the fringe of the top 6.

With Melbourne scoring two goals inside 56 minutes, thanks to a Mate Dugandzic double, the game looked done and dusted but a superb team goal from Adam Hughes on 64 minutes kept Adelaide in the contest.

It really was a night for up and coming youngsters as Leckie and Dugandzic both starring for their respective clubs.

The night went off with a bang, with Melbourne pressing and shooting at all costs proving to be the difference between winning and losing.

A weird situation occurred for Adelaide, with Captain Travis Dodd, and arguably Adelaide's best player Cassio both starting on the bench in one of the biggest games of the season - both did come on, but made little impact.

Adrian Leijer really stuck the knife in the back of Adelaide and it's supporters adding a third goal to Melbourne's tally in the 89th minute.

Adelaide were looking promising beforedhand, but all hope was lost as the Victory fans went wild.

This Saturday Night, Adelaide play a special Halloween match against the Central Coast Mariners, and hope to give them a treat in a one-off Canberra game.

Crowd: 21, 182

Goals: Dugandzic 18', Dugandzic 56', Hughes 64', Leijer 89'

Bookings: Sukha 51', Dugandzic 51'