MELBOURNE Victory is clinging onto its top six spot after last-minute AAMI Park heartbreak at the hands of Adelaide United sub Bruce Kamau.

Seconds from stoppage time, a piercing Craig Goodwin run and clever dink from Stefan Mauk found unmarked Kamau, who had time to size up the shot though he was aided by a strong deflection from Scott Galloway.

It now leaves Victory coach Kevin Muscat with a huge two-pronged challenge, as his attention turns to Wednesday’s Asian Champions League opener with Sven Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG at the same ground.

It caps a remarkable turnaround from the pair’s Round 8 meeting when Victory beat the woeful visitors at Etihad Stadium to go top of the table, leaving Adelaide winless.

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That was Carl Valeri’s last game and since Victory, which had a game in hand, has picked up 13 of a possible 39 points while Adelaide has picked up 30 of 36.

Stung by his Asian omission, Gui Finkler was Victory’s most dangerous outlet and showed some uncharacteristic grit, but it was to no avail.

The Brazilian had the ball on a string in the first half, displaying the kind of tenacity not usually associated with his game.

He chased everything down, committed some fouls in his desperation to win the ball back and even got an Adelaide opponent in a headlock.

Finkler was very lucky to escape a yellow card when he lashed out at Isaias in the 51st minute.

But interweaved in his blue-collar display were some moments of Finkler magic, starting with a cross for Archie Thompson midway through the first half that he volleyed just over.

His highlight was a splendid 30-metre free-kick that smashed against the crossbar in the 38th minute, while moments later he burst down the line and crossed for Oliver Bozanic with Eugene Galekovic scrambling to tip it away.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah, the other player dropped for the Champions League, also unleashed his fury, but like Finkler worked feverishly.

Galekovic was called into action just minutes in, tipping over a Leigh Broxham shot that would have snuck in under the horizontal.

Danny Vukovic biggest tests came in the second stanza, first with a looping header from impressive young defender Jordan Elsey which rebounded off the crossbar.

Goodwin, whose pace was a constant threat, then blazed down the left before unleashing a vicious shot from a tight angle that struck the upright.

Frustrated Besart Berisha tried to burrow his way through the Adelaide defence, and on a rare occasion he got through tight-marking Dylan McGowan produced a good block.

Victory was stiff not to win a penalty 12 minutes from time when Finkler’s corner struck Bruce Djite’s arms, though it almost went in anyway, sailing just past the post with Isaias covering.

Mauk, who joined from Melbourne City last month, had a stellar performance and posed a threat all night while getting stuck in.

And Mauk played a key role in the goal, where Goodwin showed great courage in breaking through before he was collected by Daniel Georgievski’s sliding tackle.

A blow for Victory was a fifth booking of the season to Jason Geria, meaning the right-back will miss next Saturday’s home clash with Sydney FC.