Sydney steps it up

Sydney has powered clear on top of the Hyundai A-League table, inflicting a 3-0 defeat of Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, while Perth moved into second after a gritty 1-0 success over Adelaide at ME Bank Stadium.

Sydney has powered clear on top of the Hyundai A-League table, inflicting a 3-0 defeat of Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, while Perth moved into second after a gritty 1-0 success over Adelaide at ME Bank Stadium.

The Sky Blues came into the game with a poor record against Melbourne having beaten it once in their past nine encounters. But the new-look Sydney side, considered defensive specialists before this match, put those concerns to bed when Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge (twice) scored inside the first 20 minutes in front of a season-record crowd of 30,668.

Melbourne, coming off a three-match winning streak, was unable to offer anything in response, allowing Sydney to move four points clear on top of the table after 10 rounds. It was the Victory's worst-ever home defeat and their biggest at any venue in two years, serving as a reality check to the team's prospects of defending its championship.

In Perth, a late goal from Victor Sikora gave the Glory a 1-0 victory. The Reds dominated much of the second half and Perth was only in the contest thanks to a brilliant performance by goalkeeper Tando Velaphi, who produced a string of magnificent saves.

But against the run of play, the Glory took the lead through Sikora 11 minutes from time, the Dutchman starting and finishing a sensational move that sees Perth climb into outright second on the Hyundai A-League table, with Adelaide remaining in seventh.

The one sour note of the night was a late dismissal to Glory defender Andy Todd, the former Blackburn skipper receiving his second yellow card two minutes from time when he cluttered into Reds' skipper Travis Dodd from behind.

The send-off brought some anxious moments for the Glory defence in the dying stages but both Dodd, playing in his 100th game, and striker Matthew Leckie could only fire injury-time shots narrowly wide as the Glory held on.

In National Youth League action, Brisbane and Gold Coast drew 2-2, while Perth and Adelaide also shared the points (1-1).