Graham Arnold’s side stretched their lead at the top to nine points as Alex Brosque bagged a brace in clinically dispatching of the reigning champions.

Adelaide managed to create a couple of first-half openings but couldn’t match Sydney’s killer edge, with the visitors going ahead through Filip Holosko after half an hour.

The visitors inflicted Boxing Day carnage after the break as Brosque and Rhyan Grant combined for three goals in a rampant 13-minute spell.

Sydney’s first win in Adelaide since February 2012 means they remain unbeaten in all 12 matches this term, while the Reds are still three points adrift of Central Coast Mariners in last.

GOALS

0-1 Sydney: Holosko, 34’

After his initial free-kick came back off the wall, Holosko profited from Rhyan Grant’s smart ball back into the area with a clinical finish inside Eugene Galekovic’s near post.

0-2 Sydney: Brosque, 53’

Milos Ninkovic raced through open space on the left before steadying inside the area and finding Alex Brosque for a first-time finish at close-range.

0-3 Sydney: Grant, 64’

Sydney somehow found themselves with four against three in the final third and Rhyan Grant made the Reds pay, thumping a left-footed finish in off the post after being picked out by Ninkovic.

0-4 Sydney: Brosque, 66’

Holosko was afforded acres of space on the right wing and, after his measured effort came back off the post, Brosque was on hand to tap the rebound into an empty net.

CROWD

11,805 @ Coopers Stadium