Reigning champions Perth Glory took over top spot on the National Soccer League table after breaking Adelaide United's unbeaten run at Hindmarsh Stadium with a 4-1 win.

The NSL's most prolific scorer Damian Mori and recruit Tom Pondeljak broke the match open with rapid fire strikes in the 15th and 16th minutes respectively before United got back into contention with a goal from midfielder Matthew Kemp in the 19th.

A solo effort from striker Bobby Despotovski in the 50th minute gave Perth the breathing space it needed for its sixth win in eight matches before Pondeljak rammed home his fifth of the season in the 92nd minute.

The Glory looked dangerous from the outset with Pondeljak volleying over the crossbar in the sixth minute before Adelaide showed it wanted to press more after two scoreless draws in its past two matches.

Perth keeper Jason Petkovic barely beat Carl Veart to a fierce Kemp cross in the ninth minute before fullback Richie Alagich rifled a 25m drive just wide.

Then Perth cut loose as Pondeljak drove in a low shot from 20 metres after a pass from Brad Hassell and Mori netted his sixth goal of the season with a solo run barely a minute later with a left foot shot angled across Adelaide keeper David Scarsella.

Adelaide showed its grit with a goal through its best player Kemp who latched onto a header from captain Aurelio Vidmar in the penalty area to keep the home side afloat.

However, Perth dug in under the extra Adelaide pressure with tough central defenders Shaun Murphy and Mark Byrnes excelling in close.

Mori showed little mercy on his old stomping ground, pouncing on an error by Ross Aloisi to net his 215th NSL goal and should have netted with a free header from a Despotovski corner in the 30th minute but saw his goalbound shot grabbed easily by Scarsella.

Despotovski underlined Perth's goalscoring depth with a great run through the heart of the United defence just after half-time to sink Adelaide's morale with a classy chip around Scarsella.

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