Victory capitalised on a rough day out for Canberra goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, who fumbled McKenzie Wienert's 28th-minute long-range strike over the line, then received a straight red card in the 50th minute.
Kurea Okino scored her third goal in as many games in the 57th minute to all but seal three points.
Melbourne City (17 points) remain top ahead of Perth (16), who play Sydney FC on Sunday, with Victory (14) and Wellington (13) rounding out the top four.
Victory dominated proceedings, had an extra player for 40 minutes, and had 25 shots (15 on target) to Canberra's three (zero on target).
They are now six games unbeaten and coming into form.
"There's parts of our game that are better every week," coach Jeff Hopkins said.
"That's what we're really striving for now is to bring the whole thing together in one complete performance to see what that looks like.
"We'll get Emily Gielnik back very, very soon now as well, and there'll be competition for every place and that then will maybe take us to another level as well."
Referee Georgia Ghirardello sends off Canberra United goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln. (Will Murray/AAP PHOTOS)
Lincoln received her marching orders when she was rounded by Rachel Lowe and needlessly brought down the Victory playmaker just outside the 18-yard box.
"It is what it is. The referees saw it a way. I thought she'd taken a touch and gone away from goal with the ball and then Chloe got her a little bit late," Canberra coach Njegosh Popovich said.
"She's pretty resilient though. I think that she'll bounce back.
"She's one of the best goalkeepers in the country for her age and without any doubt the future looks bright for her."
Victory made their advantage count when Alana Murphy slipped the ball out wide for Okino, and Canberra replacement goalkeeper Coco Majstorovic came charging off her line.
Okino rounded Majstorovic and coolly doubled Victory's lead.
In Adelaide, Emma Main's goal in the 21st minute appeared set to keep Wellington in third place.
Macey Fraser brilliantly slipped through the forward, who burst through and calmly scored.
Adelaide hit back in the 75th minute through substitute Emily Condon.
Chelsie Dawber was brought down by Phoenix goalkeeper Rylee Foster, but Condon pounced on the loose ball, rounded Foster and struck a wonderful shot into the top corner.
Adelaide snatched the winner 10 minutes later when Foster was unable to bat away Nanako Sasaki's well-struck free kick.
In the process, United condemned Canberra to bottom of the table.
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