SYDNEY, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Melbourne won their second A-League title in three years with a 1-0 win over Adelaide in Saturday's Australian grand final.
Midfielder Tom Pondeljak scored the only goal with a long-range strike on the hour that decided a spiteful contest which ended with both teams reduced to 10 men.
Adelaide's Brazilian striker Cristiano was sent off after 10 minutes for a clumsy elbow to the head of an opposing defender.
Melbourne striker Danny Allsopp was shown the red card 20 minutes before fulltime after a late fracas but his team held on to secure the title.
"It was a great performance. Adelaide were great, they pushed us right to the death but I think we deserved it," Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat said.
Adelaide were humiliated 6-0 by Melbourne in the grand final two years ago but captain Travis Dodd praised his team for their performance this time.
"Down to 10 men it was a very difficult game for us but the amount of courage and heart the boys showed tonight to get through the game and keep fighting to the end was fantastic. I couldn't ask any more," he said.
(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Clare Fallon)
Melbourne Victory has won the A-League Grand Final against Adelaide United at the Telstra Dome. Melbourne came into the match with a 6-0 (2-0, 4-0) win over Adelaide United in their two legged semi final. Adelaide United came into the match with a win against Queensland Roar in the preliminary final.

The A-League uses the Page playoff system where the winner of the major semi final (1st vs. 2nd) qualifies for the grand final, while the loser plays the winner of the minor semi final (3rd vs. 4th) for the remaining place.


Docklands Stadium, where the match was played 
Cristiano 
Melbourne midfielder Tom Pondeljak scored the only goal for the match with a long range strike on sixty minutes.

Adelaide were reduced to ten men after ten minutes when Cristiano landed a clumsy elbow to the head of an opposing player. Melbourne was reduced to ten men twenty minutes from time when Danny Allsopp was sent off due to a late fracas.

"It was a great performance. Adelaide were great, they pushed us right to the death but I think we deserved it," Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat said. "Down to 10 men it was a very difficult game for us but the amount of courage and heart the boys showed tonight to get through the game and keep fighting to the end was fantastic. I couldn't ask any more."

"It's one of those things I guess, it changed the game, but what can you do about it now?" Adelaide Captain Travis Dodd told Fox Sports after the match. "We worked hard to keep it scoreless until half-time, to keep our discipline and keep our shape and keep doing what we were doing."