How strange it was to see Adelaide United field the same starting team for the third straight match when the Reds took on Perth Glory on Saturday night.

Given that over the last two weeks around half of the planet’s professional footballers have reportedly been linked with a move to Adelaide, seeing the same old faces almost seemed like an alternate reality.

But those faces have pulled United into the top six – only six weeks after the team sat bottom of the ladder without a win and, in the opinion of several observers, without a hope.

The Reds also won after conceding the opening goal. That’s the side’s first come-from-behind victory since Guillermo Amor became coach.

The last time United took three points from an A-League match after going behind was way back in March of last year. That was a 2-1 home triumph over Central Coast in which the starting team was the same as it was on Saturday night with the exception that Jordan Elsey lined up against Perth instead of Nigel Boogaard (now with Newcastle).

And in both Saturday night’s game and the aforementioned win last March, Argentine midfield maestro Marcelo Carrusca was player of the match.

Carrusca magic means better results. Since he joined the club, he has played in 81 games for 35 wins, 19 draws and 27 losses.

Without the Argentine, United has 6 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses.

And in the first eight rounds of this season, in which United failed to win a match, Carrusca was either not his usual influential self or he began as a substitute. When he was restored to the starting team in round 9, he had a fine game and the Reds recorded their first victory.

(Also last season, United’s promising campaign ran out of steam when Carrusca was blunted by injury.)

United’s record since – and including – that round 9 match is 4 wins, 2 draws, no losses. It’s barely believable given the disastrous run of results to that point.

…the club’s attempt to land that missing piece up forward appears to be little more than a crapshoot

That’s not all thanks to Carrusca but the lack of a regular goal scorer in the team increases the reliance on his creativity.

The other part of United’s turnaround has been in its defensive work. The now miserly Reds have conceded just twice in their last six matches.

But, as much of the second half against Perth showed, more improvement is needed. Playing with an extra man, United should have done a better job preventing Glory from creating scoring opportunities. Fortunately the home side wasn’t able to convert any of them.

It wasn’t the first time an opposing team fluffed a couple of chances in recent weeks but, just as the rub of the green was largely against the Reds in those horror opening rounds, it has mostly favoured them since.

So, having hauled itself from wooden spoon candidate to finals contender, to continue its climb Adelaide United still needs to address two things: over-reliance on Carrusca and the occasional inability to close out games. Both shortcomings were also evident before this season.

The second part – improving the ability to close out games – probably only requires a few adjustments and perhaps some more ruthlessness.

United has the players in this department. Isaias and Jimmy Jeggo do a mountain of work from midfield to support their defenders. And the recent starting back four – Elrich, McGowan, Elsey and Marrone – has gelled. The experienced Iacopo La Rocca and Osama Malik are also available (unless the club is still trying to ship Malik out).

The extra option needed up forward – which would lessen the reliance on Carrusca – is harder to find without making a new signing.

Eli Babalj may still be an answer but he has been injured for much of the season and, for reasons best known to United’s hierarchy, the team’s most efficient goal scorer, Pablo Sanchez, is considered a fringe player.

At the moment, the club’s attempt to land that missing piece up forward appears to be little more than a crapshoot. Nevertheless, with the transfer window open for another three weeks, there is time for the dice to fall United’s way.

If they do, the second half of the season might promise a continued surge up the table.

And wouldn’t that be nice for the fans who have spent much of the last fortnight rolling their eyes every time another rumour is published?

Paul Marcuccitti’s soccer column is published in InDaily on Mondays. He is a co-presenter of 5RTI’s Soccer on 531 program which can be heard from 11am on Saturdays.