Auckland FC move top of the A-League

Louis Verstraete celebrates scoring what ended up being the winning goal against Adelaide PHOTO: A-LEAGUE

Auckland FC have gone to the top of the A-League ladder after scoring a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at Go Media Stadium.

Moments after earning a yellow card from the referee, Louis Verstraete provided the game winning gaol with 12 minutes remaining in regulation time.

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He jumped on a ricochet off the goalpost and slotted a first-time rightfoot effort to take the score to 2-1.

Englishman Sam Cosgrove put the home side on the board first in the 25th minute, when Francis de Vries expertly guided a free-kick across the goal from the right corner, finding his striker on the far post to nod home.

Adelaide equalised on the stroke of halftime, with Luka Jovanovic dribbling into the goalmouth and beating goalkeeper Michael Woud from pointblank range - the first goal against the Auckland FC this season.

Verstraete's decisive goal came off a cross from Guillermo May, headed onto the post by Jesse Randall, before falling perfectly for the midfielder.

The Phoenix can join Auckland at the top of the table on Sunday, if they beat Central Coast in Gosford

.