Soccert: Adelaide roll Phoenix

Sergio Van Dijk of Adelaide and Ben Sigmund the Phoenix compete for the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Adelaide United created A-League soccer history by extending their unbeaten sequence to 13 matches as the Wellington Phoenix's miserable away record continued when they succumbed 3-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.

Outplayed for the first half hour of 11th round clash, the league leaders created three stunning goals inside six minutes to carry them six points clear of the Brisbane Roar.

The Phoenix - who have banked only one point from a possible 18 outside the sanctuary of Westpac Stadium this season - wilted when Sergio van Dijk headed home in the 71st minute.

Argentine playmaker Marcos Flores then celebrated his return from a hamstring injury less than 60 seconds later by clipping past Mark Paston after a perfect delivery from Travis Dodd.

Dodd, Adelaide's regular captain, then marked his graduated return from injury six minutes later when he appropriately seared the ball past the All Whites custodian.

The midfielder's arrival in the 53rd minute for an ineffectual Iain Ramsey added a cutting edge to an Adelaide side that has already wrestled the momentum from a Phoenix side that has now has five losses - and a draw at Melbourne Victory - undermining their record 24-match unbeaten streak in the capital.

Adelaide's three-goal burst enabled them to eclipse the 12-match mark set by the Central Coast Mariners in the inaugural A-League season of 2005-06.

In the only downside for Adelaide, Dodd limped off during injury time after he had caused irreparable damage alongside stand-in skipper Lucas Pantelis and Flores.

Pantelis squandered a first half opportunity but was more threatening once Dodd's arrival allowed to move to his favoured left flank - the creative Flores was also relatively quiet in the opening half before producing some beautiful touches.

A Pantelis cross to the unmarked van Dijk finally rewarded Adelaide's control, a minute after Paston - and the right hand upright - prevented Paul Reid from breaking the deadlock.

Paston could hardly be blamed for the goals as Adelaide swarmed forward at will.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert reverted to his standard back four alignment after a three-man backline was exposed during last weekend's 2-2 draw with the Melbourne Heart and it looked sturdy until late in the first half.

Socceroos defender Jade North and compatriot Nick Ward were dropped to the bench, the latter replaced by Mirjan Pavlovic, who made his first start of the campaign.

Pavlovic made a promising beginning up front with Chris Greenacre

but critically could not covert two second half chances, misses that hastened his substitution.

Greenacre forced an excellent save from Eugene Galekovic in the 34th minute after the Englishman deflected a teasing cross from Hearfield goal bound - but it was a rare anxious moment for the Adelaide custodian.

The sixth-placed Phoenix now face being overtaken before the end of the round - they should also lose more ground with the bye next weekend before they host Brisbane on November 3.

Adelaide United 3 (Sergio van Dijk 71, Marcos Flores 72, Travis Dodd 77) Wellington Phoenix 0
Halftime: 0-0

- NZPA