Diego Castro masterclass helps Perth Glory dismantle Adelaide United

Perth Glory maestro Diego Castro orchestrated a 5-0 belting of a demoralised Adelaide United in Friday night's A-League match.

Castro scored two goals, set up another for Andy Keogh and featured in the lead-up to Adam Taggart's score as Perth climbed to fourth spot.

Adelaide can't slip any lower on the ladder -- they're last -- but they plunged to fresh, dark depths in a ramshackle display at Coopers Stadium.

The loss was Adelaide's biggest on home soil, eclipsing their 4-0 result just seven weeks ago against Sydney FC.

After kickoff was delayed one hour because of extreme heat, Adelaide defender Iacopo La Rocca neatly scored the first goal -- for Perth.

The Reds' defender inexplicably headed a Josh Risdon cross into the net from close range in the 15th minute -- the goal would have been perfectly executed, had it been at the other end.

The own-goal sapped Adelaide's spirit and Perth capitalised in ruthless fashion to bank their seventh win of the season.

After La Rocca limped off with a right leg complaint 20 minutes after his blunder, Castro was a central figure in two rapid-fire goals.

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The Spaniard helped himself in the 37th minute -- after collecting near the byline, he dodged Adelaide's Riley McGree and then weaved a right-footer into the far-side netting.

Just nine minutes later, Castro tore towards goal after Keogh won possession in midfield.

Keogh tracked his teammate upfield and Castro duly delivered a gold-plated lay-off which the Irishman coolly converted.

It took the Glory just one minute into the second half to extend their lead to 4-0 -- and Castro was again involved.

The 34-year-old aimed a speculative left-footer across the goal-face which rebounded into the path of Taggart, who belted into the net from five metres.

The reigning Johnny Warren Medallist wasn't finished yet. In the 88th minute, he drifted on to an Aryn Williams pass for a tap-in which completed Adelaide's misery.