Soccer: Smeltz booting Gold Coast clear of pack

Shane Smeltz (centre) has scored six of Gold Coast United's 10 goals this season. Photo / Getty Images

Newcomers Gold Coast United, aided by Shane Smeltz's goal-scoring talents, are set to quickly distance themselves from the rest of the A-League clubs.

After just three rounds, the Robina-based franchise are two points clear of Sydney FC with Smeltz' six goals accounting for more than half of his team's 10 scored in a frenetic opening to the new season.

The Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar - who played out a 1-1 draw at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday - are next-best in the goalscoring stakes with five each but it is Smeltz, chasing a second successive Golden Boot, who promises to be the difference.

He opened the scoring just 13 minutes into the round-three clash in Adelaide. Steve Fitzsimmons - one of six players booked in the match - added a second early in the second half as Gold Coast made it three straight in a flying start to their season.

Interestingly, Gold Coast had only 21 per cent of possession at Hindmarsh Stadium but converted two of eight attempts whereas Adelaide failed to find the mark from eight attempts.

It was even all round as the Central Coast Mariners entertained Sydney FC in a scoreless draw at Bluetongue Stadium. In failing to win, Sydney dropped their first points of the season but hold second from the Mariners, who remain the only other unbeaten team after a one win-two draws start to their season.

There was little goalmouth action at Dairy Farmers Stadium, where visiting Melbourne Victory got home 1-0 thanks to an Archie Thompson goal in the dying seconds of the first spell.

The match produced just four scoring attempts for each team with only one from each on target. The home side failed to turn a healthy advantage in possession into goals as they slumped to their third straight loss.

After being outplayed in the first half by Brisbane, the Phoenix came back strongly in the second to eventually dominate possession with 56 per cent. They also had one more scoring attempt, 10-9, but failed to force one corner in response to the three won by the hosts.

In opening the scoring for Brisbane, Sergio van Dijk took his goal count to three, good enough for second place in the Golden Boot, while Chris Greenacre's reply for the Phoenix allowed him to join three other players, including John Aloisi, in equal third place with two.

Perth Glory scored a goal in each half to beat previously unbeaten Newcastle 2-0 to pick up their first points and leave Adelaide, Brisbane and North Queensland below them on the points table.

In the round-four feature, Sydney FC are at home to the Phoenix in the last game of the round, on Sunday at 7pm.