KEY POINTS:
Melbourne Victory's four-goal spurt late in the first half and their subsequent 4-0 win over the hapless New Zealand Knights was enough to send the 15,563 fans at Olympic Park wild.
The Kevin Muscat-led team, who had finished just one place ahead of the Knights in the inaugural Hyundai A-League season, clinched the minor premiership with four games to play and showed they will be the team to beat at the business end of the season.
The makeshift Knights gave as good as they got in the early stages of Sunday night's game but once the home side scored - cashing in on a hesitant Knights defence in scoring from a quickly-taken freekick - there was no stopping the Victory.
The league's top scorer, Danny Allsopp, opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Three minutes later, Adrian Caceres scored a cracker. The home side turned defence into attack for a third and a second quick freekick, which again caught the visitors napping, ended the blitz.
The Knights battled bravely to keep the home side at bay in the second spell, with substitute Michael White showing out and Jonas Salley and Alen Marcina creating half chances. But the damage had been done.
Sydney FC got home 1-0 over Perth Glory at Aussie Stadium but needed a late Alex Brosque goal to do it.
Five Perth players, including New Zealanders Leo Bertos and Adrian Webster, were booked whereas the home side got through unscathed.
It was much the same story for third-placed Adelaide United.
They beat Newcastle Jets 3-2 at Hindmarsh Stadium, again needing a late goal to break the deadlock. The home side, too, escaped without having a player booked, whereas the Jets had three in referee Mark Shield's book.
Romario finally delivered his first goal for Adelaide, scoring the only goal of the first half after 15 minutes.
Mark Bridge equalised in the 60th minute but that joy was shortlived as Fernando put Adelaide back in front on the hour. Nine minutes later Matt Thompson got the visitors back to 2-2. The last say was with the home side, however, with Greg Owens scoring the 79th-minute winner.
Queensland Roar got themselves back into play-off contention in another see-saw battle, finally edging home 3-2 over Central Coast Mariners in the only game of the round not won by the home side. Adam Kwasnik scored twice from the penalty spot for the Mariners but two goals from Dario Vidosic following one from Ben Griffen earned the Roar the points.
The 18th round kicks off on December 28 with Perth at home to Adelaide. The Knights host Queensland the following day.
