Melbourne Victory 1 - 0 Adelaide United

Pondeljak nets winner

Updated: February 28, 2009, 8:00 AM UK

Melbourne Victory won a second A-League grand final in three years with an action-packed victory over Asian Champions League finalists Adelaide United at the Telstra Dome.

Midfielder Tom Pondeljak scored the only goal on the hour mark for Melbourne, who were a player up for most of the game after Reds striker Cristiano was sent off in the 10th minute.

Victory's Danny Allsopp was also shown a red card with 35 minutes remaining, but Melbourne clinched the title with their sixth win over the Reds this season.

Victory's Nick Ward went close after eight minutes when his low strike from the edge of the area skimmed a post following a surging run.

The game turned in Melbourne's favour early on as Cristiano was sent off for catching Victory's Rodrigo Vargas with a stray elbow.

Although Vargas was left with blood streaming from a head wound, there looked to be no intent from the Brazilian and it appeared initially he would only get a yellow card until the assistant referee, who did not flag for a foul despite being only yards from the incident, gave his opinion to referee Matthew Breeze.

Adelaide seemed content to defend deep after the dismissal and Jonas Salley's off-target header was a rare chance in the first half.

Melbourne struggled to break down their opponents though, and could have gone behind when Scott Jamieson forced a point-blank save from Victory goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos.

But Melbourne eventually broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Pondeljak cut in from the left wing and fired a low strike from outside the area into the bottom corner.

The Adelaide goalkeeper kept his side in the game when he kicked away a Carlos Hernandez strike from close range after the Costa Rica midfielder had weaved his way into the area.

Melbourne were also reduced to 10 men when Allsopp was sent off for a clash with defender Robbie Cornthwaite which led to a brawl lasting several minutes.

Adelaide substitute Cassio mis-timed a shot with the goal at his mercy in the closing minutes and Paul Agostino shot wide as Melbourne hung on.