Adelaide Melbourne City bounced back from their Friday night fade-out against Newcastle Jets in the best possible style with a 4-2 win over Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Thursday night, a victory that keeps John Van 't Schip's side in touch with the A League's pace setters.
City's players and their coach had copped plenty of criticism for the defeat at home to the Jets, when they raced to a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes only to implode in the second half, conceding three goals and losing the game.
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Melbourne City belt Adelaide in A-League
Melbourne City maestro Aaron Mooy orchestrates a 4-2 victory over an off-key Adelaide United to leave the Reds as the A-Leagueâs only winless club.
With winless Adelaide struggling at the foot of the table this was a big game for both clubs as they tried to shrug off their early season disappointments and find the rhythm and consistency required to mount a championship challenge.
On this evidence it promises to be a long campaign for the Reds, who were too often sliced apart with through-balls, which allowed City to get in behind their back four and capitalise on the spacethey found.
![Aaron Mooy of Melbourne City loses the ball as he is tackled.](/web/20161020065204im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/s/2/c/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gks27y.png/1446767910643.jpg)
For City the news is much better. If Van 't Schip can get his team to play with self belief they can give anyone a game, especially if Aaron Mooy is fit and in the mood.
Whatever the weather, wherever the game and no matter how well or how poorly his team-mates are playing, Mooy has been metronomic in his output, the fulcrum of the City team whenever it looks to get forward. Shut down Mooy, and there is a fair chance that you will shut down City.
Given a roaming commission behind the front three, City's marquee player got all the space he needed to create opportunities for his team-mates and get on the scoresheet.
When Australia defender Tarek Elrich lost possession in the sixth minute Mooy was on hand to pick the ball up and thread a defence-splitting pass to David Williams. The striker was one-on-one with Reds keeper John Hall but fluffed the chance, striking the ball at the goalkeeper's legs. Luckily for him, Mooy's delivery from the resultant corner to the near post found the unmarked Erik Paartalu who headed home to put the visitors in front.
![Adelaide United goalkeeper John Hall attempts to block Bruno Fornaroli of Melbourne City.](/web/20161020065204im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/s/2/c/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gks27y.png/1446767910760.jpg)
The goal gave City the boost they needed and would have worked wonders for Paartalu's confidence, the giant midfielder only just getting his place back in the team in this game having been left out for the past three.
Mooy seems to take every corner, free kick and set piece his side receive. And so it was appropriate that it was Mooy who gave his team the two-goal cushion it wanted going to the interval.
![Isaas of Adelaide United gets to the ball ahead of Stefan Mauk of Melbourne City.](/web/20161020065204im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/s/2/c/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gks27y.png/1449708394958.jpg)
The combative Jacob Melling won the ball in the middle of the park and fed a pass to Mooy. He linked up with Stefan Mauk, who fired through a cross which Bruno Fornaroli stepped over. The ball came back to Mooy who advanced into space and lashed a fierce drive that went in after slamming against the crossbar.
City looked to have put the game beyond reach in the 56th minute when the Uruguayan striker Fornaroli struck for the fourth time this season. Substitute Harry Novillo found the South American, who danced and dived round three defenders before slotting past Hall.
Adelaide thought they may have got a lifeline 10 minutes later when, after a period of pressure from the home side, Spanish striker Cirio fired past City keeper Thomas Sorensen.
But just four minutes later City had restored their three-goal advantage and it was Fornaroli who again did the damage, with Novillo once again the provider. Fornaroli ran on to the Frenchman's pass, beat the offside trap and rounded Hall before poking home.
Adelaide got some consolation for their efforts five minutes from time when Pablo Sanchez converted from the penalty spot, but the fightback, by that stage, was never likely and City went off with the points they deserved.