Adelaide United came from behind to thrash Wellington Phoenix 4-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium and claim top spot in the A-League.

Midfielder Lucas Pantelis netted for the third match straight, helping United to a fourth win in five matches and leapfrog from third to top spot on goal difference.

Dez Giraldi and Jason Spagnuolo netted their first A-League goals while Olyroo Nathan Burns claimed his third goal of the season as United sped away from the hapless Phoenix after half time.

The start was another story as Kiwi international striker Shane Smeltz made room in the penalty area to squeeze a left foot shot home and put the visitors ahead after just three minutes.

However, the 11,740-strong home crowd were soon relieved when injury prone Giraldi netted his first goal for the club to make 1-1 in the fifth minute.

The 21-year-old striker headed home a Spagnuolo free kick at the far post unmarked and had a shot just saved off the line by Phoenix keeper Mark Paston in the 16th minute.

Smeltz was Wellington's main threat and glanced a header just wide of the post in the 26th minute but United started to take control in midfield through incisive play from Pantelis and Diego.

Brazilian full back Cassio forced Paston into error in the seconds before half time with a wicked free kick from 30 metres out and Burns pounced on the rebound from only five metres out to bundle the ball home for United to led 2-1 at half time.

United's best player of recent weeks, Pantelis virtually iced the club's third consecutive win with a cool finish in the 49th minute after taking a long pass from Richie Alagich and beating the offside trap.

It turned into a something of a home coming for ex-Adelaide captain Ross Aloisi, as United controlled the second half comfortably and the Phoenix crashed to a fourth consecutive loss.

Kristian Sarkies came off the bench in the 71st minute for Giraldi and set up Spagnuolo's first A-League goal with a deft chip in the 75th minute which the speedy winger flicked coolly over the advancing Paston to tuck away for 4-1.

Cassio and Burns missed good chances late to extend the margin but just failed.

Wellington skipper Ross Aloisi, who parted ways with Adelaide at the end of last season, found little to relish on his return to his old stamping ground for the first time.

"They are a good side, probably the best we have come across this year and they scored some good goals."

But Phoenix had continued to make fundamental mistakes which they needed to get out of their game.

"We conceded a goal with the last kick of the first half - it was from a stupid foul (that gave them the chance) and we didn't follow their runners when our goalkeeper parried the ball.

" It was a real killer when they scored early in the second half as well. At the end of the day, it's not good enough to concede so many goals," said Aloisi.

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