Adelaide defeats 10-man Wellington

Attacker Jeronimo Neumann scored twice as Adelaide scored three goals in the final 40 minutes to deliver Phoenix its first loss of the season.

Wellington finished the match with 10 men after Ben Sigmund was controversially sent off in the 77th minute, judged to have brought down Jeronimo just outside the box.

Stein Huysegems opened the scoring for Wellington, before the visitor was overwhelmed by Adelaide, who returns to the top of the table with the win.

Jeronimo's brace was punctuated by fan favourite Cassio's 68th minute goal, which gave Adelaide a 2-1 lead.

Cassio, after a 20 metre run which sliced open Wellington's midfield then defence, flicked to Jeronimo, who fed the ball back to his team-mate who promptly scored with a slick left-footer.

Adelaide's comeback triumph came after Phoenix talisman Paul Ifill created Huysegems' strike with a crafty through ball in the 42nd minute.

As a flat-footed Adelaide defence stood hoping for an offside call, Ifill's insightful pass played the Belgium international into ample space.

Huysegems closed within 10 metres and powered a left-footer with such force it gave Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galevokic no chance.

Adelaide hit back just 10 minutes after halftime when Jeronimo scored.

After a scramble, Wellington's attempt to clear its defensive area rebounded into the path of Jeronimo just 10 metres from goal.

While fortunate to find the ball at his feet, Jeronimo's finish was clinical, a left-footer which equalised against the flow of play.

Jeronimo repeated the dose in the 85th minute after being played into space by Dario Vidosic, his left-foot finish sealing the three points for John Kosmina's men.