Adelaide United have maintained their 100% away record with a 2-0 victory at Central Coast Mariners that has lifted them up to second place in the A-League.

Pablo Sanchez had never previously scored an A-League goal before the game and the forward passed up the opportunity to open his account when he squandered a one-one-one chance in the 17th minute.

However, the Spaniard powered home from Fabio Ferreria's cross five minutes before the break, and then doubled his side's lead just three minutes later as he finished off after Tarek Elrich's mazy run.

The home side struggled to create many opportunities after the break and their task was made doubly difficult when former Sheffield United midfielder Nick Montgomery was shown a second yellow card 20 minutes from time.

With 10 men, the Mariners rarely threatened and the visitors picked up their second successive win to move within a point of league leaders Perth Glory.