Melbourne City have recorded their second win of the A-League season by defeating Adelaide United 4-2 at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The visitors opened the scoring inside eight minutes, as Aaron Mooy's near-post corner was nodded in by Erik Paartalu.

City looked the more threatening side throughout the first half and doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break through Mooy. Some neat build-up play on the edge of the Adelaide box saw the ball played into the midfielder, who rifled the ball beyond Eugene Galekovic and in off the bar.

Adelaide almost pulled a goal back immediately after the break through Bruce Djite, but the striker saw his effort smothered by City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to keep the score at 2-0.

The hosts looked the more threatening side in the second half but it was City who extended their lead when Bruno Fornaroli found space inside the penalty area before drilling the ball home.

Adelaide continued to press forward and were rewarded on 65 minutes as Sergio Cirio made it 3-1. The Spanish winger was picked out on the edge of the box before curling the ball beyond Sorensen into the bottom corner of the net.

However, John van 't Schip's City restored their three-goal lead soon after as Fornaroli bagged his second of the game, rounding the goalkeeper to slot the ball home after being found in space by Harry Novillo.

Adelaide were given another chance to reduce the deficit in the 86th minute as they were awarded a penalty, with Bruce Kamau felled in the area. Pablo Sanchez stepped up and sent Sorensen the wrong way to make it 4-2.

Adelaide could not find another as City held on for a straightforward victory that moves them up to fifth in the standings, while Adelaide remain bottom without a win to their name this season.