After Toivonen, with an open goal in front of him, somehow put a point-blank headed effort over the bar in the 49th minute, Sydney were then able to put the game to bed.

Slicing and dicing their way through the Victory lines with ease in the 53rd, Le Fondre and Baumjohann worked the ball into a pocket of open space on the right in order to allow the former to slide an inviting cross towards the six-yard-box that Barbarouses slid to meet and scramble home.

With Sydney continuing to dominate, Nabbout powered into the area swung a half-volleyed effort in on goal in the 82nd minute as he tried to lift his side but, once again, it was little trouble for Redmayne, who saved comfortably.

Just three minutes later Ninković and Baumjohann had the final words.

Working his way into space, substitute and human victory cigar Luke Ivanovic played a ball to the feet of his Serbian teammate at the top of the area.

Though his first touch was heavy, Ninković nonetheless was able to get to the ball ahead of three converging defenders and Thomas and promptly slid a pass across to an open Baumjohann – who fired home into an open net.

Quite literally flexing on the home fans to celebrate, the German was clearly feeling himself but the smile was wiped off his face in the 94th minute when a flailing arm thrown out as he went to ground caught the face of Broxham.

He was shown a straight red for the blow while Broxham, who had brought him down to begin with, saw his second yellow of the evening for the challenge.

Problems remain at AAMI Park

Kurz might have been shown the door at AAMI Park a week and a half ago but the problems, it appears, have not departed with him.

Though they flashed some positive signs early, Victory were clearly the second-best side on the park on Friday night; a Sydney side that looked like they weren’t even approaching top gear working their way through the Victory ranks with an almost casual ease time after time after time.

While it must be acknowledged that Victory was operating without their three first-choice centre backs for the contest – James Donachie suspended, Tommy Deng with the Olyroos and Tim Hoogland on the shelf with injury – Victory’s almost complete absence of a midfield meant that it would have been difficult going for any backline, let alone one fielding a player – Ben Carrigan – making his A-League starting debut.  

The quartet of Ninković, Baumjohann, Le Fondre and Barbarouses were able to go about their business with ever-increasing impunity as the contest wore on, while Victory was forced to scratch and claw for their few chances.

"We need to take positive things because we are not in a good moment," Carlos Salvachúa said post-game. "And we need to continue with this group of players and we have to find some positives. We can't stop here.

"As well, we can talk about excuses, the time and the training, but during the 90 minutes we have to do different things."

Though he was able to get a win over Bali United mid-week, Salvachúa has now lost both of his A-League games in charge at AAMI Park. And though he should be able to add Marco Rojas to his line-up in coming weeks – Victory’s new signing not receiving his international clearance in time to play against Sydney – the problems his side has in midfield and defence won’t go away with the Kiwi Messi’s introduction.