Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has thrown shade over Adelaide United's maiden A-League championship, accusing the Reds of abandoning the beautiful game in their quest for victory.

In a pulsating grand final at Adelaide Oval, the Reds won 3-1 despite controlling just 35 per cent of possession.

"They didn't play football," said Popovic.

"They played long balls, second balls - and we didn't deal with those second balls very well.

"But that's what you get in a final."

Bruce Kamau was lauded by Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor. ( AAP Image: David Mariuz )

Adelaide United's coach Guillermo Amor, who has spent most of his career with the high priests of passing at Barcelona, seemed bemused by the accusation.

"He said that?" Amor asked.

"Carrusca played fantastically with the ball, Kamau, Sergio and the other players.

"It is normal to..."

Unfortunately, at that point Amor's rebuttal was cut short by United's jubilant players gate-crashing the news conference and showering him in champagne.

But the statistics would seem to tell their own tale.

United recorded 59 long balls to the Wanderers' 63, albeit while attempting just 265 passes to the visitors' 497.

Adelaide United finally broke its duck, clinching the A-League championship after winning the Premier's Plate. ( Getty Images: Morne de Klerk )

"They just kept playing long balls, so I'm not sure what else we could have done," said Popovic.

"We had some chances, but we didn't make the most of our moments in the first half.

"We weren't at our best, that's for sure."

The loss was Western Sydney's third grand final defeat in four years, and Popovic admits it will hurt everyone involved with the club.

"We don't hide the fact we want to win everything - we're not embarrassed by that," he said.

"We wanted to win this title at the start of the year but at the end of the day Adelaide won and we didn't, so we move on."