The teams were locked at 0-0 until substitute Gan struck on 77 minutes to finally breach the visitors defence.

Gan found space and got on the end of a beautiful out-swinging Karol  Kisel corner. The young midfielder timed his run perfectly and powered his header past Crowther to put the hosts in front.

The points were secured nine minutes from time when John Aloisi scored his second as the marquee man surpassed his tally for the whole of last season.

"We practised that (corners) at training. I should have put the first two away but the third is all that counts," Gan said of the goal.  "The game goes for 90 minutes so we're all going to go for that whole 90 minutes and it paid off in the end."

Boss Vitezslav Lavicka is happy to be top of the table but remains as grounded as ever.

He said: "I appreciated all the players' passion and activity. I have to say it was a similar game against Adelaide (United).

"We are happy, but I have to repeat, round 4 is gone, nothing more, nothing less." 

A mouthwatering clash against Gold Coast United now beckons for Sydney FC. The two front-runners meet at Skilled Park on Saturday.