The former United coach saw his team bounce back after falling behind to a Kristian Sarkies goal to secure all three points thanks to goals from Brendon Santalab, Steve Corica and Robbie Middleby.

To add to Adelaide’s misery they were forced to play the bulk of the game with just 10 men after Robbie Cornthwaite was dismissed for pulling back Alex Brosque.

Victory strengthened Sydney’s push for a top four slot while leaving Adelaide with a mountain to climb in order to make the finals series.

The win sees Sydney up into third spot, level on points with second-placed Queensland Roar, four clear of Adelaide and still unbeaten away from home.

Skipper Tony Popovic said: “It’s a huge win. We’ve been under pressure in each game since Kossie came in and we’ve responded. It’s another big game and another win away from home. We’re on a great run, four points clear of them (Adelaide) and it’s a bit of breathing space. It was hard out there but when you win it hurts a little less.”

United skipper Travis Dodd conceded that defeat now leaves his team with a simple equation – win every remaining game.

He said: “It’s frustrating. It’s been the story of the season. We get a lead and then cop a soft goal. Playing with 10 men for the majority of the game made it very difficult. It’s pretty simple now, we need to win the next three games. We’ve made it hard for ourselves and it’s going to be a great test of character for the boys.”

The first ever Hyundai A-League clash to be staged at the Adelaide Oval – in front of a record football crowd in South Australia of over 25,000 - saw both coaches on a sticky wicket as far as injuries were concerned. The duo, so recently master and apprentice for the Reds, were looking to put a real dent in the other’s finals ambitions.

Aurelio Vidmar has recently seen Shaun Ontong sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle problem and he joins a long term injury list which already includes marquee striker Paul Agostino (quad) and Nathan Burns (hamstring). The United boss was able to welcome back defender Ang Costanzo and injury-ravaged Dutch winger Bobby Petta as he made four changes from the club’s last outing.

Former Adelaide United coach Kosmina returned to the city where he enjoyed a bitter-sweet experience with a Sydney FC side still buzzing from last week’s astonishing 5-4 triumph over the Central Coast Mariners. The visitors, still unbeaten away from home in the competition, were boosted by the return from injury of goalkeeper Clint Bolton, defender Mark Milligan and marquee man Juninho. Ruben Zadkovich was also back in the shake up after completing his suspension. Juninho had to be content with a place on the bench but last week’s substitute heroes Adam Biddle and Brendon Santalab were both given starts by Kosmina.

However, last week’s match-winner Ufuk Talay served a ban with Michael Bridges (flu) and Mark Robertson (hamstring) also missing.

Bruce Djite climbed to meet a Travis Dodd cross from the right on seven minutes and as the ball looped over the top he felt a corner should have been awarded – the ball appearing to come off Iain Fyfe last.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surface, the heat, or a combination of both, but it was certainly a quiet start to proceedings in the opening 10 minutes at the Oval.

Sydney forced a couple of fruitless corners before the home side forced its first set piece on 15 following good work from Petta. It came to nothing and Adelaide had to get back smartly to prevent Alex Brosque surging clear down the left.

The game finally sparked into life in the 19th minute as Sydney failed to clear Petta’s cross from the right and Kristian Sarkies pounced to slam in his first goal for United – his first goal since scoring against Adelaide in last season’s grand final. Sydney, who had started the slower of the two sides, responded quickly and Eugene Galekovic was forced into a hurried clearance before holding on to a Zadkovich strike.

Sarkies crashed an effort high and wide on 22 as Vidmar’s men looked to add to their advantage in front of the watching Pim Verbeek.

Clearly the heat was a factor as referee Matthew Breeze whistled for a drinks break on 25 minutes. When the action resumed Travis Dodd scuffed a 20 yard shot wide of the left post, Petta again the provider.

Dodd became the first player to go into the book on 28 for halting Robbie Middleby’s charge down the left, the Adelaide skipper none too happy with the decision. From the resulting free-kick, Steve Corica the provider, Galekovic punched clear convincingly under pressure from Sydney skipper Tony Popovic.

Fyfe followed Dodd into the notebook on the half hour for a clumsy foul on Lucas Pantelis but Bolton was able to gather Sarkies’ woeful free-kick. Sydney broke quickly but Santalab’s strike from the edge of the area lacked the pace to trouble Galekovic.

On 33 the match took an unhappy turn for Adelaide as Robbie Cornthwaite was handed a straight red card for pulling down Alex Brosque on the edge of the area – hardly the ideal way for the defender to mark his 50th appearance for the club.

From the resulting free-kick Fyfe got his shot over the Adelaide wall but the ball comfortably cleared the crossbar.

Diego threaded a ball through the Sydney defence on 37 but put a fraction too much pace on the pass for Richie Alagich to benefit.

Cassio tried his luck with a long range free-kick on 40, awarded for Zadkovich’s clumsy foul on Djite, but the ball sailed harmlessly off target. Milligan entered the book for a trip on Pantelis moments later but Bolton comfortably gathered the resulting free-kick which was floated into the Sydney box.

Santalab thundered a drive straight at Galekovic following a great run by Corica before Biddle missed an absolute sitter.

Dodd’s header back towards his own goal was pounced on by Biddle. He rounded Galekovic but took far too long to pull the trigger. It allowed Dodd to atone for his error and clear the ball.

On 44 though Sydney did haul themselves level with an absolute cracker from Santalab. He turned past Alagich before curling a pearler into the top right hand corner of the net from the left edge of the area – his second goal in successive games. The teams went in level at the interval with Sydney enjoying the numerical and psychological advantage.

Vidmar made a change at the start of the second half with Petta making way for Milan Susak as Adelaide re-jigged its line-up following Cornthwaite’s departure.

Corica whipped a low cross into the six yard box on 47 but was unable to pick out a colleague as the visitors made a decent start to the second period.

Adelaide came desperately close to regaining the lead on 49 though with Dodd’s powerful shot deflected away for a corner by Milligan.

Brosque was guilty of trying to square when he should have shot on 52, again Corica the provider, with Adelaide able to clear the danger. A shot across the keeper would surely have seen the visitors in front.

Corica decided to show Brosque how it was done on 54, taking advantage of a kind ricochet to rifle home his third goal in four matches. However, Adelaide were guilty of giving him far too much time and space to charge into the box and pick his spot.

Djite looped a header just over the top on the hour mark as Adelaide tried to give a quiet home crowd something to cheer. Djite was then pulled back for a foul after seemingly winning the ball fairly from Milligan, enraging player and coach as the referee penalised the Reds.

Sydney made a change on 65 with Brendan Renaud replacing Biddle while Middleby was cautioned for clattering into Cassio.

Sydney made it 3-1 on 66 as Zadkovich crossed from the left, Brosque flicked on and Middleby poked the ball over the line under pressure from Pantelis.

Galekovic was booked for protesting, claiming that Zadkovich was offside as he received the ball. A second glance suggested he had a strong case. Kosmina made his second change of the night, Zadkovich making way for Juninho.

Santalab’s deflected shot on 71 drifted wide of the left post and from the corner Corica took aim and sent a shot spinning just wide.

Galekovic spread himself to thwart Santalab following a surging break from Fyfe. With 14 minutes remaining Vidmar made a double change introducing Matthew Mullen and Jonas Salley with Alagich and Sarkies the men to make way.

Cassio was booked for diving in the area as he went down under a challenge from Fyfe, much to the fury of the Adelaide fans who had been screaming for a penalty.

Sydney were denied a fourth a minute from time when Galekovic made a flying stop to his left to deny Brosque. Bolton kept out a Dodd header at the other end in what proved the last action of the encounter. That was that, leaving Kosmina to bask in victory while Vidmar has three games left in the campaign to plot a course back into the top four.