Melbourne City defeats A-League leaders Adelaide United 1-0

Melbourne City toppled A-League ladders Adelaide United courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday evening.

SCOREBOARD: ADL 0-1 MEL

	Reds 0-1 City
at Hindmarsh Stadium, March 11, 2016
2	Shots on target	5
6	Shots off target	9
58%	Possession	42%
5	Corners	8
0	Offsides	2
Adelaide United: 0 Melbourne City: 1 (N Fitzgerald 71')

View full stats sheet

Nick Fitzgerald provided City with the match winner in the 71st minute, a neat left-foot strike finding the top corner of the net following an excellent attacking movement.

City move to provisional second place on the ladder on 38 points, with United a point ahead in top spot.

United and City will be overtaken, though, should Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar - both also on 38 points - win their respective weekend fixtures.

Fitzgerald ended the Reds' club-record unbeaten league streak of 14 matches with a classy goal.

The City forward cut inside Adelaide defender Jordan Elsey with one touch of his right boot, then launched into the far top corner of the net with his left boot with the next touch.

The defining goal was just reward for City, who controlled a feisty encounter which featured nine yellow cards.

City produced 13 shots to just eight for the Reds, who were off colour before a bumper 14,274-strong home crowd.

The visitors effectively stifled the Reds, who lost creative spark Marcelo Carrusca at half-time because of groin soreness.

Carrusca's absence was keenly felt by the Reds, who found scant time and space against a City outfit who boasted ever-present attacking threats in Fitzgerald, talisman Aaron Mooy and Harry Novillo.

And City recruit Osama Malik also turned in a solid display against his former club, while the player he was swapped for - Stefan Mauk - was relatively subdued for the Reds against his old club.