A first-half goal from Ben Halloran was enough to give the home side all three points at Coopers Stadium.

In their first game since head coach Marco Kurz was sacked and replaced by interim boss Carlos Perez Salvachua, Victory were left to rue missed opportunities as they dropped down to seventh in the table, with Adelaide climbing to fifth.

Victory saw a penalty overturned by VAR after Jordan Elsey was initially penalised for handball, and the first half got worse 32 minutes in when Halloran bundled the ball in at the back post after goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas failed to hold Riley McGree's effort.

Andrew Nabbout fired narrowly wide and Paul Izzo produced three fine saves to keep Victory at bay, before only the woodwork denied Nikola Mileusnic a second for Adelaide.