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A five-goal thriller featuring two melees and a late Fernando Rech winner has put Adelaide United five points clear at the head of the A-League.
Adelaide beat Sydney FC 3-2 in Adelaide on Sunday, with Rech's 83rd minute long-range strike deciding the game after the visitors had fought back from two goals down to level the scores.
The top-of-the-table clash had everything, including two all-in brawls late in the match as Adelaide defended desperately and ultimately took the three points to push nicely clear of second-placed Sydney.
Adelaide had opened up a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes with Rech and Carl Veart scoring to leave the visitors reeling.
But Japanese import Kazuyoshi Miura netted twice as Sydney powered back into an epic contest, before Rech smacked in his second from 20 metres out to ensure his side's victory.
The match then exploded with two melees featuring most of the players on the field in the final five minutes.
Despite plenty of jostling and a couple of headlocks, referee Mark Shield chose just to book one player from each side after the first melee - Sydney FC's Iain Fyfe and Adelaide's Mike Valkanis - in an attempt not to add any further heat to a great contest.
Adelaide United coach John Kosmina said the manner of the victory showed the spirit within his squad.
"It was a great way to win with Rech's second goal," he said.
"It just reinforces the type of character we've shown all season."
"Sydney are a great team and very clever on the ball.
"But we ran the show most of the second half."
However, United will have to play their next match against Newcastle without striker Shengqing Qu and captain Ross Aloisi, who have received one-match suspensions after being booked in Sunday's match.
Adelaide United coach John Kosmina said his team deserved to win overall.
"It was a great way to win with Rech's second goal," he said.
"It just reinforces the type of character we've shown all season."
Kosmina said he was particularly pleased his team didn't make any silly mistakes when leading.
"Sydney are a great team and very clever on the ball," he said.
"But we ran the show most of the second half."
However, United will have to play the next match against Newcastle minus Chinese striker Shengqin Qu and captain Ross Aloisi who will be out suspended after being booked.
Sydney coach Pierre Littbarski is confident his club will benefit greatly from what it showed during the match played before Adelaide's biggest crowd this season.
"It was a great game. We played very well and scored two beautiful goals," Littbarski said.
"I think one point would have been okay for us today.
"We had some really nice combinations between the strikers. It was the first time we played as a team up front."
Littbarski was particularly pleased with Yorke's form, describing it as his most effective match for Sydney this season.
"It was a good mixture between taking risks and keeping the ball," Littbarski said.
