Darwin Olympic SC 1 Adelaide United 6

Darwin Olympic 1

(Tsounias 19')

Adelaide United 6

(Carrusca p. 18', Jeggo 38', 39', Cirio 77', Babalj 78', Pablo Sanchez 79')

Holders Adelaide United had to work hard early on before eventually dispatching Darwin Olympic 6-1 in the competition's Northern Territory debut on Wednesday night.

The visitors from South Australia took the lead in the 18th minute when Billy Kathopoulis felled Osama Malik inside the area, Marcelo Carrusca stepping up to stroke the ball home from the penalty spot.

To their considerable credit, Darwin replied within 60 seconds, striker Michael Tsounias - who had already hit the post and sent another shot narrowly wide - racing through on goal to score past Eugene Galekovic.

The A-League side were back ahead in the 38th minute, James Jeggo heading home Michael Marrone's cross from the right wing. A minute later the former Melbourne Victory man broke clear of the Darwin backline to double both his tally and the Reds' advantage.

Sergio Cirio, last season's FFA Cup top scorer, put the result beyond doubt when he lashed home a classy fourth goal for the Reds with 13 minutes to go. Barely a minutes later and newcomer Eli Babalj, signed on loan from AZ Alkmaar, added a fifth from close range.

The floodgates were well and truly open when Pablo Sanchez then made it 6-1 with Adelaide's third goal in as many minutes, although mercifully that was as bad as it got for the valiant amateurs, who perhaps deserved a more flattering scoreline.