09.03.2014 09:45 h

Football: Roar 10 points clear in A-League

Brisbane Roar surged 10 points clear at the top of Australia's A-League with a 2-1 win over playoff contenders Adelaide United on Sunday.

The Roar capitalised on Wanderers' tempestuous 3-1 derby defeat to Sydney FC to have the Premier's Plate for finishing first past the post all but wrapped up with five games left in the regular season.

A fortnight ago the Wanderers trailed Roar by four points, but they are now in a dogfight for a top-two berth, which grants a home semi-final in the playoffs, with four rival clubs.

Albanian striker Besart Berisha scored a double for Brisbane and almost finished with a hat-trick as Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic pulled off a superb save in injury time.

Argentine Jeronimo Neumann picked up a brilliant consolation goal for Adelaide at the other end moments later.

The Wanderers flew to China on Sunday for their mid-week Asian Champions League encounter against Guizhou Renhe also enmeshed in racism slurs from Sydney FC's former Iraq international Ali Abbas.

Sydney FC's comeback victory, sparked by a penalty save from goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, has thrust Frank Farina's team into fourth place on 31 points, just one win behind their Sydney rivals.

Melbourne Victory (33) are back in the hunt for second place after shrugging off last week's 4-0 thumping by Melbourne Heart with a crucial 3-1 win over champions Central Coast Mariners (30).

Golden boot contender Adam Taggart fired Newcastle (29) to within one point of the top six with a 1-0 upset of the resurgent Heart.

Wellington Phoenix (27) continued last-placed Perth Glory's frustrations with a late equaliser at home Sunday for a 1-1 draw after Frenchman William Gallas had put Glory ahead.