Adelaide skipper Paul Agostino netted goals on either side of half time, before a Kevin Muscat penalty on 71 minutes and a Richie Alagich own goal in the dying stages tied the contest.

The result leaves Victory in sixth position on the Hyundai A-League ladder with 17 points, four behind fifth placed Sydney FC and five behind the Newcastle Jets in fourth.

Coach Ernie Merrick opted to field an attacking side for the crucial match, with Carlos Hernandez, Kaz Patafta and Adrian Caceres all starting alongside each other for the first time this season.

The move almost paid dividends moments after kick off through Archie Thompson as Victory created their first chance before an Adelaide player had touched the ball.

The Socceroo tried to convert from a goalmouth scramble, but his shot soared centimeters above the crossbar.

Despite early efforts, Victory were a goal down on 17 minutes when Agostino tapped in from pointblank range as calls for offside were waved away by the referee.

Agostino had no trouble scoring after the ball came off the boot of Dez Giraldi, sailed over the head of Theoklitos and deflected off the right post before rolling into the path of the Adelaide skipper.

Victory stepped up their intensity in search of an equaliser, applying pressure on the visitors and creating a number of close chances that went begging in the space of 10 minutes.

Matthew Kemp and Caceres fired shots that were agonisingly off target, while Thompson delivered two balls that were denied by former Victory goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who was playing his first match in Melbourne since moving to Adelaide earlier this season.

Hernandez came closest to leveling the scores with a lunge that missed a Patafta cross in the six yard box, while Michael Theoklitos continued his run of impressive form at the opposite end with a stunning save off Agostino in first half stoppage time.

It was another case of being in the right place at the right time for Agostino after the break as he doubled Adelaide’s lead.

The former Socceroo had the woodwork to thank for a second time as he headed a rebound off the crossbar on 49 minutes.

Leandro Love and Joseph Keenan were introduced and hope was restored for Victory on 71 minutes when Thompson was brought down in the penalty area, earning a spot kick that was convincingly struck home by Muscat in his return from suspension.

Having used all their available substitutions, Adelaide were unable to replace an injured Nathan Burns, who left the field whilst clutching his right hamstring.

Persistence paid off for Victory in additional time as Alagich attempted to clear a blistering Hernandez free kick but instead sent the ball into his own net to ensure Victory claimed one point.