Ruthless Sydney FC put six past Glory

Dec 30, 2017 - 11:59 AM Graham Arnold has hailed Sydney FC's 6-0 hammering of Perth as the best performance he's seen in the A-League.

The Sky Blues put five second-half goals past the Glory on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium, in a lustrous attacking display that equalled the club's biggest A-League win on record and lifts them eight points clear at the top of the ladder.

Goals to Brandon O'Neill, Adrian Mierzejewski and Alex Brosque, along with Bobo's second hat-trick in as many games, also extended the Sky Blues' undefeated home record to 23 games to equal the record set by Ange Postecoglou's all-conquering Brisbane side of 2010-11.

The win - the reigning champions' 11th from 13 games - is the clearest sign yet the race for the Premiers' Plate may be all but over.

Asked if that was the most complete performance he's seen from a Sydney side, Arnold said: "Probably the A-League."

"That was a wonderful performance in the second half.

"I gave the boys the challenge to win 6-0 ... especially to be more clinical and finish off 2017 in a fantastic way."

For Kenny Lowe's Glory, it was their eighth consecutive - and worst ever - loss to Sydney in all competitions, an unenviable record that leaves their top-six spot in jeopardy.

"Just quality - excellent players, great goals," Lowe said.

Despite that, Perth's start showed promise this chapter might not stick to the script, as they bore down on a slow-starting Sydney and forced several clearances, Liam Reddy called on only once to palm Bobo's header over the crossbar.

But the early pressure amounted to nothing tangible and, by the 21st minute, the visitors had been punished by a former son.

O'Neill, who struggled for game time at the Glory before being snapped up by Arnold, finished a wonderful move.

Mierzejewski was, as usual, the fulcrum, threading a through ball for Milos Ninkovic, who drew Reddy out and then side-footed to a waiting O'Neill.

So rapidly did the momentum shift, Perth were lucky to enter halftime only 1-0 down.The reprieve did not last.

Mierzejewski, aggrieved the video assistant referee had disallowed his 58th-minute goal for offside, quickly made amends from a first time Josh Brillante pass.

Minutes later Brosque had tripled the lead via a flicked header and Bobo had both won and converted a penalty.

Substitute Jacob Italiano opened up Perth's best chance 20 minutes from time with a deflected strike into the bar, before Andy Keogh diverted his follow-up header straight to Andrew Redmayne.

But by then they were just playing for time and Reddy was called on again and again to save the scoreline blowing out even further.

Ten saves in total the goalkeeper made but he could not stop Bobo's 12th and 13th goals of the season, the Brazilian taking a touch off Mierzejewski's ball and volleying home.

Reddy then brought Bobo down and, though he got a glove to the penalty kick, the ball rolled over the line.

Source: AAP