Adelaide United have moved to the top of the A-League ladder and are close to taking home the Premiers' Plate following a 2-0 victory over Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Friday.

It took just four minutes for the visitors to find the breakthrough as they were awarded a free kick close to the box and selected Isaias to take it.

The midfielder stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner, giving Adelaide a crucial lead, but City came close to finding an equaliser in similar fashion.

Aaron Mooy attempted to bend a free kick into the goal, but his effort missed the target as the ball went over the crossbar, and a few minutes later his teammates were shouting for a penalty.

Iacopo la Rocca got on the end of a corner and his header ended up brushing the hand of Alex Wilkinson, but the referee waved away City's penalty claims.

The hosts ramped up the pace as Harry Novillo's shot was saved by Eugene Galekovic, but they were dealt a blow at the other end when their shot-stopper Thomas Sorensen brought down Stefan Mauk in the box.

After the referee pointed to the penalty spot, Bruce Djite comfortably slotted home by sending the keeper the wrong way to give Adelaide a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half time.

The goal caused tension on the field and there was a tussle between players from both sides as they entered the tunnel for the half-time break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Nick Fitzgerald had a chance saved by Galekovic, but City were almost dead and buried on the hour mark when a goal from Dylan McGowan was disallowed.

The referee blew the whistle after McGowan was adjudged to have pushed Patrick Kisnorbo while leaping for the header.

City kept trying to create goalscoring opportunities, but Adelaide were relatively comfortable in keeping their opponents out.