Melbourne blanks Fury, vaults to top of A-League

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SYDNEY (AP) -- Costa Rican international Carlos Hernandez scored two goals as the Melbourne Victory moved into first place in Australian football's A-League with a 2-0 win over the North Queensland Fury.

Hernandez's 66th-minute goal on a long-range free kick sealed the match and officially ended any chances North Queensland had of making the playoffs.

The win put the Victory three points clear of second-placed Gold Coast and five points ahead of Sydney, with Melbourne holding a superior goal difference.

Sydney will try to close the gap when it plays Perth later Sunday, as will Gold Coast when it takes on Wellington.

Melbourne's win came at a high cost, with defender Matthew Kemp suffering what appeared a serious knee injury set to rule him out of the club's A-League playoff campaign. The Socceroo defender was injured inside the first minute of the match, when his knee wobbled awkwardly in a tackle.

He left the field for treatment then attempted to play on before clutching his knee and leaving the pitch. He will have scans on Monday.

The defending champions are already without star striker Archie Thompson for a month with a broken bone in his foot, while skipper Kevin Muscat is missing for another week through suspension.

Victory coach Ernie Merrick said Kemp may require a full reconstruction.

"First impressions are he's done some damage to his anterior cruciate ligament,'' Merrick said. "It's not been a good week for us with injuries ... another top player who's had such a good year.''

Adelaide United ended Brisbane Roar's finals hopes with a 2-0 win. Midfielders Fabian Barbiero and Lucas Pantelis scored in the seventh and 51st minutes to give Adelaide only its second win in its past nine games.

A match between Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets at Gosford, north of Sydney, was postponed due to heavy rain and wet pitch. It was rescheduled for Monday night.

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