Adelaide United assumed outright A-League leadership with a 2-1 triumph over Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.
Reds young gun Matthew Leckie scored first, before Argentinian Marcos Flores produced a second half stunner at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium.
The pair of goals ensured Adelaide remained undefeated at the top of the table, while the cash-strapped Jets stay winless.
Leckie’s third goal of the season came in the 22nd minute, set up by acting Adelaide captain Cassio.
The Brazilian followed an incisive run down the left flank with a pinpoint cross to Leckie, inexplicably left unaccounted near the penalty spot by Newcastle’s defence.
Leckie duly fired an accurate header into the left corner of the net to gift Adelaide momentum never relinquished before their parochial home crowd of 9,579.
Flores’ second half goal was memorable, the Adelaide playmaker cruising past three Jets defenders in a dazzling 20 metre run capped by a precocious left foot chip into the top right corner.
The Jets, who this week received a $300,000 loan from Football Federation Australia so they could pay their players and staff, snared a consolation in the 89th minute when Sean Rooney pounced on a Cassio defensive error.
Rooney dribbled past Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic to score but could not halt Adelaide opening a three-point lead at the head of the ladder over Perth Glory, who can bridge that gap with victory over Gold Coast on Sunday.
Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen was content with the three points for the win, but less than satisfied with the performance.
“A few mistakes, wasn’t necessary,” Coolen said.
“It wasn’t our best game, some players were disappointed … but if you still win your home games, that gives you a good feeling.”
Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina lamented his side’s lack of a “cutting edge” in attack.
“One team finished their opportunities, took their opportunities with conviction,” Culina said.
“The other one probably had double the amount of opportunities and huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the house or goals down.”
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