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Melbourne Victory put one foot in the A-League grand final on Saturday night with a 2-0 defeat of Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
It was a fair indicator of the gulf between the sides that, if anything, it was Adelaide who got off lightly – on a luckier night the Victory could have scored six.
The visitors maintained their tactical, technical and mental stranglehold on the Reds, firing into the lead through Carlos Hernandez in the early minutes then comfortably heading off the home challenge for the remainder of the evening in front of 14,119 spectators.
Danny Allsopp added a smart second at the death to leave United needing a miracle when they travel to Melbourne for the return leg.
Hernandez and Socceroo Archie Thompson were the stars of the first half, while Kevin Muscat was irritating as ever in defence and former Red Matthew Kemp excelled on his return to familiar turf.
“I certainly think we could’ve scored more goals, particularly in the first half, we had seven good quality shots,” Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick said.
“But I can’t complain, I though all round it was a fantastic performance and every player we used played almost to their best, even off the bench.”
United’s troubles were deepened by an ankle injury to Kristian Sarkies, but their steepest task is to puncture the confidence that seems to course instantly through Melbourne veins whenever they face the South Australian side.
Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar denied the tie was over.
“You’ve got to think that the tie is still alive,” he said.
“Obviously it’s going to be extremely difficult but you’ve got to go out and battle for another 90 minutes.”
A frenetic opening saw Melbourne make several aggressive forays and veteran Red Paul Agostino narrowly miss a chance to head on goal from a long throw, before Sasa Ognenovski was booked for upending Muscat – all within the first five minutes.
With both sides trying to nick the ball in midfield then attack on the break there was plenty of end-to-end drama, while Adelaide’s efforts to impose themselves led to a steady stream of fouls on Victory players.
Nevertheless, Melbourne’s season-long advantage in midfield remained, and this was confirmed most thrillingly on 13 minutes.
Hernandez took an opportunity to run at the creaking legs of Michael Valkanis and, closing on the edge of the box, he unleashed a stinging shot that singed the fingers of Eugene Galekovic and crossed the line via the underside of the crossbar.
Allsopp made absolutely sure by heading in the rebound, but the Costa Rican was eventually credited.
Melbourne had their away goal and all the momentum, threatening to double their advantage for the rest of the half.
Thompson went closest in the 38th minute, his effort touched onto both posts by Galekovic, who also did well to hang on to a Hernandez effort after he was played in by Tom Pondeljak.
The heat of the evening appeared to affect both sides in the second 45, which played out with a curious flatness.
Melbourne, happy with the lead, controlled midfield but did not extend themselves.
Adelaide, meanwhile, were bereft of ideas, and simply unable to threaten.
The tedium was broken right on 89 minutes when Melbourne made one more push, and Allsopp outmuscled Ognenovski – careful not to foul because of his earlier yellow – before firing crisply beyond Galekovic.
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