To see match pictures from a Sydney FC fan's view...

Aloisi, who has not scored in open play since October 25 and has just two goals to his name for the season, butchered two certain goal scoring opportunities in the first half to continue his miserable stint with the Sky Blues.

The million-dollar-a-season signing cut a disconsolate figure after squandering the second of his chances – a tap in from a metre out with the goal open – burying his head in his hands as he tucked himself in the foetal position behind the Glory goal-line [pictured].

It came after the out-of-sorts striker - a hero of Australia's 2006 World Cup campaign - missed a near open goal in the 26th minute.

He was the first to reach Shannon Cole's free kick but failed to connect meaningfully from two metres out with the goal beckoning.

Aloisi was eventually put out of his misery after 55 minutes, dragged from the field and replaced by Mark Bridge amid jeering from frustrated Sydney fans.

His blunders proved costly as Perth made the most of their openings to craft out a victory that leaves them in with a shot of reaching the top four.

An Adriano Pellegrino goal in the 11th minute, an own goal on 34 minutes, a Wayne Srhoj thunderbolt minutes after the resumption and a second own goal late in the game sealed Sydney's fate.

Stuart Musialik pulled a goal back on the hour, lashing home a tremendous left-foot volley, but it was to be one of the rare highlights in a dire performance by the home side.

The loss leaves Sydney in sixth spot and with time running out if they are going to maintain their record of reaching the finals in each of the four Hyundai A-League seasons.

The Sky Blues were booed off the ground at fulltime by those in the crowd who bothered to stay to the bitter end, with much of the anger directed at under-fire coach John Kosmina.

Perth's first two goals were the result of dubious defending on the hosts' part.

Naum Sekulovski's long throw evaded Sydney defender Iain Fyfe, allowing Nikita Rukavytsya to slip past in acres of space and work the ball into the box for Pellegrino.

Pellegrino didn’t hit his shot cleanly but still put enough on it for the ball to squeeze past Clint Bolton's far post and stun the small crowd into silence.

The visitors doubled their lead 11 minutes before the interval, Sydney defender Anthony Golec conceding an own goal after failing to deal with Nikolai Topor-Stanley's header from a corner conceded from a Bolton mistake.

Cole could have found himself on the scoresheet and changed the complex of the game after just four minutes.

Robbie Middleby's cross found Cole unmarked in the box but the midfielder's left foot volley flew harmlessly wide off the mark.

The lively Middleby was proving a constant threat down the right and his back post cross in the 21st minute, nodded towards the penalty spot by Aloisi, was wastefully headed over the bar by Brendan Gan.

It was then Glory's turn to spurn a gilt-edged chance, Eugene Dadi heading Nick Rizzo's clever cross wide from a dangerous position.

Dadi should have been on the scoresheet on the stroke of half-time but pushed his shot straight at Bolton after going one-on-one with the keeper.

But Dadi's blushes were spared just three minutes into the second half, Srhoj latching onto a pass on the edge of the box and rifling an unstoppable shot past Bolton.

Musialik's 60th minute thunderbolt gave Sydney a glimmer of hope but another own goal – Middleby heading past Bolton in the 69th minute – ended any hope of a miracle recovery.

To see match pictures from a Sydney FC fan's view...


Match Details
Sydney FC 1 (Musialik 61)
Perth Glory 4 (Pellegrino 11, Golec (og) 36, Srhoj 49, Middleby (og) 69)
Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd: 12,165
Sunday 21 December 2008
Referee: Ben Williams