Adelaide United has shored up top spot on the A-League ladder with a late goal to veteran Carl Veart inflicting Melbourne Victory's first home defeat of the season.

The 1-0 win confirmed Adelaide as the league's best travelling team, with Friday night's Olympic Park win their fifth road victory.

United's defence had soaked up plenty of pressure, with the Victory having several good chances early in the second half, before Veart scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute.

The winner came as Adelaide had pressed continually late in the match with the Victory tiring after its constant earlier efforts to pierce the disciplined and experienced defence of the visitors.

The goal was straightforward, but well-executed, with defender Angelo Costanzo delivering a precise long ball from defence, Veart running forward of the Melbourne defenders and coolly chipping it over advancing keeper Eugene Galekovic.

Adelaide deserved its win but the home side had created plenty of chances in the first half and during a frenetic opening to the second.

Most disappointing for the Victory would have been a missed opportunity by Richard Kitzbichler in the 54th minute, when a backpass by Archie Thompson set him up in space, with keeper Daniel Beltrame out of position.

But Kitzbichler's firm low shot was blocked on the line by Adelaide defender Kristian Rees.

Thompson also had a good opening six minutes later, when an Andy Vlahos pass found him in space at close range, but he fired a right-footer over the crossbar.

The Victory also missed plenty of chances in the first half, while Beltrame twice had to show extremely sharp reflexes to tip goal-bound balls over the crossbar.

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