Adelaide United put seven goals past struggling Newcastle Jets

Adelaide United have closed in on top spot in the A-League ladder, having cruised to a comfortable 7-0 victory over lowly Newcastle Jets at the Hindmarsh Stadium.

The game was as good as over before the interval with the Reds already boasting a four-goal lead, and it took just two minutes to open the scoring when Bruce Djite found the net following some good play down the left-hand side.

A sustained spell of pressure followed the home side, which the Jets were unable to hold off as Marcelo Carrusca rounded Ben Kennedy to place the ball into the back of an empty goal.

Adelaide were then awarded a penalty with less than 30 minutes of the game played, and while Kennedy was able to keep out Carrusca's initial effort, the spot kick was retaken and tucked away with aplomb.

Nigel Boogaard added a fourth before the interval when he latched on to Osama Malik's knock-down to leave the Novocastrians staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat.

Adelaide were clearly benefiting from their recent break, with Djite adding his second of the game at the second attempt having seen his initial shot from 15 yards well blocked.

Sergio Cirio added a sixth from the spot with 20 minutes still remaining, leaving Isaias Sanchez to join the party in the dying stages of the contest with a fine curling effort into the top corner to round off the scoring and put Newcastle out of their misery.

Josep Gombau's men are now within three points of league leaders Perth Glory, while the visitors, still with just one win to their name all season, sit down in ninth place.