A marvellous Marco Rojas free kick and a deft Besart Berisha strike, both goals coming in the last 25 minutes of an entertaining contest, was enough for Melbourne Victory to secure a 2-1 win over struggling Adelaide United at AAMI Park and retain their slim hopes of overhauling Sydney FC in the race for the Premiers Plate.
Adelaide got a stoppage-time consolation when Tarek Elrich capitalised on Jason Geria's error, but the Reds were never going to have enough time to find a leveller.
Victory huffed and puffed for more than an hour but could not blow down an Adelaide house that has, for most of the season, looked a rickety edifice. But persistence paid off as Rojas capped off a fine all-round display and Berisha became only the second man (after Archie Thompson) to score 50 goals for Victory.
The Reds' title defence has been disastrous and they came into this game rock bottom of the league. Guillermo Amor's side had conceded 37 goals this campaign and the coach fielded a number of youngsters and new faces in what was always going to be a difficult assignment.
Senegalese striker Papa Babacar Diawarra was in from the start for the visitors, having only just joined the club after spending the last decade in Spain and Portugal while Jaesung Kim, another new signing, was in midfield alongside Argentine Marcelo Carrusca.
Victory boss Kevin Muscat left regular midfielder Oliver Bozanic on the bench and gave Jai Ingham, the young winger who has recently signed a contract extension, an opportunity on the flank.
Veteran Victory wideman Fahid Ben Khalfallah was once again missing. Television commentators speculated that he has been left out in recent weeks because if he plays another game this season he triggers a contract extension – something Victory are not keen to offer. Adelaide threw caution to the wind and at least had a go, unlike many teams in their situation who might have come up against powerful opponents and tried to minimise the damage.
The hosts dominated the first half and created a number of opportunities but could not find a way past the Reds rookie goalkeeper Daniel Margush, starting only his second game for the titleholders.
James Troisi has been in rare form for Victory in recent months and looks a certainty to win a recall to national team colours for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Once again he was the creative fulcrum for Victory as they drove forward, shooting from distance or trying to play defence-splitting passes as he linked with Berisha and Rojas to good effect, even if the final result was too often short of what was needed.
It wasn't all one way traffic however, and Adelaide had arguably the closest call of all in the opening half when Sergio Cirio's shot beat Lawrence Thomas but was cleared off the line by Leigh Broxham.
Daniel Georgievski found Rojas who set up Troisi, the striker making space well before unleashing a shot that flew just wide. A minute later Rojas linked with Berisha and Troisi before driving an effort that Margush tipped wide.
Victory had got well on top by the mid point of the first half but couldn't convert their territorial domination on the scoreboard.
Adelaide defender Elrich's long shot was dealt with easily by Thomas, while at the other end Margush had to come out smartly to dive at Rojas' feet before Troisi again fired just wide when the ball was cut back from the left side.
Ingham went close shortly after the restart with a shot that flew just wide, then Margush made an excellent save to deny Troisi after he had been set up by Berisha.
Rojas broke the deadlock in the 66th minute goal with a well-taken free kick from the edge of the penalty area after he had been brought down by Dylan McGowan moments before.
Rojas almost doubled the advantage six minutes later but his header came back off the crossbar.. But Victory got their second in the 82nd minute when Berisha fastened on to a Rojas pass.
