Bruno Fornaroli (11', 56') was in fine touch - including a cheeky panenka penalty - and had the home side cruising before Sergi Guardiola (64') put the injury-depleted Reds back in the reckoning.

City coach John van’t Schip elected to rotate his squad for their third game in seven days resting star Tim Cahill.

And despite tiring in the latter stages, the home side held on to go equal points with Sydney at the top of the table, with the Sky Blues still to play.

Meanwhile, the defending champions remain winless in four rounds.

The home side came out all guns blazing, Bruce Kamau hit the crossbar after nine minutes however it did not matter when Bruno Fornaroli made it 1-0 just two minutes later.

City looked livelier in the opening stages finding rhythm with their passing, Fernando Brandan wowed the crowd after a nutmeg on Ben Garuccio.

Brattan’s low ball into the penalty area nearly paid dividends for City at the 23rd minute as Fornaroli should have claimed his second with the final ball going just wide.

Under the half hour mark the reds nearly got the equaliser courtesy of Ryan Kitto whose slow shot managed to hit post.

With five minutes remaining in the first half Neil Kilkenny was ridiculed on social media after a clash with Isaias, the City midfielder went down holding his face after the Spaniard appeared to be pushing him off, surprisingly it was Fornaroli who received the booking.

And just before the referee blew his whistle for half-time Kitto nearly levelled again when his header rattled the crossbar from an Isaias free kick.

City would pick up where they left off, the Brattan and Fornaroli combination continued at the 52nd minute and nearly resulted in a goal.

Three minutes later a Brandan header struck the arm of Sergi Guardiola in the box and a penalty was awarded by Chris Beath. Fornaroli then converted with a cheeky chip to send Galekovic diving the wrong way.

United pulled one back over the hour mark, Guardiola made amends with a headed goal courtesy of a Garuccio cross pulling it back to 2-1.

Tarek Elrich almost scored a goal from no man’s land with six minutes remaining which forced Dean Bouzanis to tip it over the crossbar.

City managed to weather the storm in a feisty encounter earning a total of five yellow cards opposed to the Reds who had three players in the book.

Van't Schip's men next take on Brisbane Roar at Suncorp. The Reds, who have racked up three straight losses, will hope to turn it around next week at home against the Mariners.