Adelaide easily accounts for Phoenix
Posted
Updated
Paul Agostino of Adelaide United competes for the ball with Richard Johnson of the Wellington Phoenix. (Getty Images: Simon Cross)
Adelaide United has joined Melbourne at the top of the A-League ladder with a comfortable 3-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Cristiano bagged a second half double after Lucas Pantelis opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful strike.
The Phoenix struggled without striker Shane Smeltz (flu) and are bottom of the ladder, having conceded eight goals in three outings.
The Reds dominated from the start and did not take long to open the scoring, Pantelis making no mistake in finishing off a surging move from the home side.
Wellington wasted a chance to equalise early in the second half when Adelaide custodian Eugene Galekovic saved well from Leo Bertos.
United made them pay, with Cristiano hitting the back of the net twice in the space of 11 minutes to bury the visitors.
The Brazilian could have had a hat-trick but his finishing let him down on several other occasions.
Adelaide is undefeated so far this season while the Phoenix has just its opening weekend home draw with Queensland to show for its efforts.
Adelaide 3 (L Pantelis '15, Cristiano '48, '60)
Phoenix 0
