Adelaide United hammered Melbourne City 4-1 this morning to secure their place in the end-of-season A-League finals.

Pablo Sanchez supplied Palanca with Adelaide's 19th-minute opener before doubling his team's lead four minutes later by knocking in the rebound of Sergio Cirio's shot.

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Tarek Elrich carried the ball from the halfway line and slotted beyond the Melbourne goalkeeper to increase United's advantage in style prior to half time.

Things got even better for Adelaide on 59 minutes when Craig Goodwin was brought down inside the box and Cameron Watson buried their fourth from the spot.

Aaron Mooy grabbed Melbourne's consolation with a penalty of his own midway through the second period, although City immediately had Kew Jaliens sent off for apparently denying Goodwin a goalscoring opportunity.

Michael Marrone saw red for Adelaide moments later, but that would not stop his side from climbing above Wellington Phoenix into fourth, four points adrift of Melbourne Victory at the top of the table.