Sydney created several opportunities in the first half, although many of them were more long-range chances than concrete shots at goal, while substitute striker John Aloisi continued his barren run of form against Perth, missing a great chance late in the game to equalise before Jelic fired home.

The result sees Perth climb above Wellington into fifth on the A-League table as Sydney missed the chance to re-take top position from Melbourne, after  Victory leapfrogged the Sky Blues through their 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.

Having lost midfielder Wayne Srhoj to suspension and with marquee man Mile Sterjovski starting off the bench after suffering a virus, Glory coach Dave Mitchell opted to field an experimental line-up that struggled to gel throughout the first half.

Coming up against Mitchell's unpredictable selections, that saw him move Adriano Pellegrino to central midfield and Scott Bulloch into a striking role, Sydney opted for a cagey opening as both sides tested the water.

The first real shot on goal came from the visitors as Karol Kisel worked his way forward and unleashed a powerful effort narrowly over the bar in the 16th minute.

Perth were fortunate a header from Mark Bridge 10 minutes later glanced wide of the post, the hosts' only real opportunity for the half being from a misplaced header over the bar by Sydney defender Stephan Keller from a corner.

Alex Brosque looked especially dangerous, using his pace and skill to cut open Perth's defence, especially when he set up an unmarked Bridge, whose powerful 41st-minute effort was punched around the post by Tando Velaphi.

Perth's Todd Howarth was substituted at half-time for Sterjovski, allowing the marquee man to take his spot on the left flank. Almost immediately Glory looked a more creative force going forward, finally putting some pressure on Sydney's back four.

Six minutes after the break some fancy Sterjovski footwork saw the former Derby man work his way into a shooting position, although he fired wide. However Sydney failed to heed the warning as the Glory went ahead in the 57th minute.

Jamie Coyne delivered a dangerous long ball from the right that took a slight deflection allowing Bulloch, in his first start for the campaign, to glance the ball home, stunning the visitors.

Bulloch's reward was to be immediately substituted for Dutchman Victor Sikora, although Glory continued to dominate possession as Sydney struggled to break down their defence.

Perth came close to doubling the advantage when Sterjovski set up Branko Jelic in the 78th minute, the striker's flicked effort well taken by Clint Bolton, with the Sky Blues taking their chance to up the ante.

Second-half substitute Aloisi glanced a header wide of goal from a Kisel free kick, while the former Socceroo striker flashed an effort over the bar in the 84th minute with the goal at his mercy after a collision between Tando Velaphi and Andy Todd left the Glory stopper on the ground.

The misses came back to haunt Sydney as Glory doubled the lead with two minutes remaining. A barnstorming run and slick pass from Todd released Sterjovski with the Socceroo squaring the ball for an emphatic finish from Jelic.