Melbourne Victory ran out 2-0 victors over Adelaide United, moving them temporarily to first and piling the pressure back onto Perth Glory as a slight shift in form beckons.

Ola Toivonen outshone his Japanese marquee counterpart, scoring and assisting against the resilient Reds defence, brute physicality and a touch of selfless flair proving the difference.

"It was tough in the first half, but we knew that Adelaide were going to come here and stay compact and we knew there were going to be spaces in the second half," the Swede said.

"It was good, I'm getting to know the players more and more but we're getting confidence and we go onto the next one."

Adelaide were understandably disappointed - a hard-working Craig Goodwin, who sacrificed his attacking exploits throughout the match in order to contain Victory's rampant midfielders, summing up the energy around the United dressing room.

"I thought we were in it in the first half," Goodwin said. "And in the second, at the start, but we conceded a soft goal.

"Toivonen is the target man but we need to follow in those ones. Victory. when they take the lead, they're a hundred miles an hour. 

"For us, it's obviously disappointing for us to lose, but they're so strong, they were last week, and we did well for the most part. We lacked the quality in the second half."