Brazilian striker Fernando scored his second brace in consecutive matches as Adelaide United overran a depleted Perth Glory 3-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Socceroo winger Travis Dodd rounded off United's second straight victory by scoring with an explosive drive from 20 metres in the first half to open his season's goal tally.

Perth's 17-year-old goal keeper Aleks Vrteski kept the scoreline from blowing out further with a string of confident saves as the Glory slumped to its second defeat of the season.

After back-to-back losses to start the season, Adelaide has rebounded to climb into the top four after a pair of emphatic wins.

The victory came a week after the Reds' 5-1 hammering of Newcastle, prompting coach John Kosmina to claim his current squad had improved on the one which won the minor premiership last season.

"I think we've gone and taken another step forward from last season," said Kosmina, who's side has played its last two games at home after a lengthy road trip during the pre-season and first two rounds of the competition.

"We've got good options all over the park now and we've realised in the past fortnight just how hard all that travelling was on the players.

"We've been settled at home the last fortnight and we've played brightly and scored some great goals and controlled the games.

"We were a little sloppy last week but we weren't tonight.

Perth coach Ron Smith said his team "lost their way a bit" after going behind.

"Indecision cost us the second goal but we have ongoing issues," he said.

"I'm still trying to come to terms with our players and how to use them.

"But that's going to be the nature of our season."

Perth mixed it with United early but couldn't finish gilt-edged chances without injured talismen, Socceroo Stan Lazaridis and striker Bobby Despotovski.

Fernando opened the scoring in the 14th minute, picking up from where he left off after a double in last week's belting of Newcastle.

He coolly slotted a left foot shot low into the corner of the net after pacy Jason Spagnuolo had headed down a cross from fullback Greg Owens.

Bajic was forced into a flying save from former Socceroo Simon Colosimo from 20 metres in the 32nd minute as brave Perth tried to fightback.

But it all went dark in the 34th minute when Dodd collected a pass about 25 metres out and took a couple of steps before rifling a swerving shot past Vrteski.

Fernando proved the ultimate predator in the 50th minute when he put the game out of Perth's reach, his left foot drive deflected off Perth defender Jamie Coyne and wrong footing Vrteski for 3-0.

Smith singled out young keeper Vrteski for a sterling effort in goal and said benchmark striker Despotovski is a possibility to return for the next match against Melbourne.

United coach John Kosmina was again minus Socceroo defender Mike Valkanis with a hamstring, but experienced Angelo Costanzo made sure the Glory attackers had little joy all night.

With the game in his safekeeping, Kosmina was able to give valuable match time to former Celtic midfielder Bobby Petta and young striker Dez Giraldi on the comeback from injury.

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