Mooy set up Eric Paartalu for the opener and scored the next before Bruno Fornaroli rubbed salt into the Reds’ gaping wounds with a second-half brace in last night’s fixture at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium.

Adelaide’s Sergio Cirio scored in the 66th minute – the first goal by a Reds player this season – and teammate Pablo Sanchez netted late after a questionable penalty call.

Adelaide, after two draws to open their campaign, have conceded 10 goals in three consecutive defeats in a grim start to new coach Guillermo Amor’s tenure.

Mooy pulled the strings in a midfield masterclass which helped City bank their second win of the season.

The creative force set up Paartalu’s opener in the eighth minute to stun Adelaide’s 8632-strong home crowd.

Mooy delivered a tracer corner to Paartalu, who was gifted a free run to the near post by slack Adelaide defending and duly deflected a header into the net.

Mooy scored himself in the 35th minute – he took control on the edge of the box and thundered a right-footer which cracked into the under-side of the cross-bar and over the line.

City increased their lead to 3-0 in the 56th minute when Fornaroli somehow prevailed when seemingly sandwiched by three Adelaide defenders.

The Uruguayan slid past the defence, and then slid forward to poke over despairing Adelaide goalkeeper John Hall.

Adelaide gained some traction five minutes later when Cirio, gifted time and space, launched a sweet 12-metre strike into the net.

But 10 minutes later, Fornaroli slipped an offside trap, darted around gloveman Hall and coolly slotted his second – he’s scored in three of Melbourne’s five games.

Adelaide gained some scoreboard respectability in the 85th minute when substitute Bruce Kamau was brought down in the box by City captain Patrick Kisnorbo, who appeared unfortunate to cop a penalty which was converted by Sanchez.

Adelaide coach Amor lamented his side’s mistakes which allowed City to dominate.

“The result is bad for us,” he said.

-AAP