This A-League season hasn’t yielded quite the loot of records of the last, but Sydney FC’s 6-0 hammering of Perth equalled a mark not matched in seven years.
Goals to Brandon O’Neill, Adrian Mierzejewski and Alex Brosque, along with Bobo’s second hat-trick in as many games, extended the Sky Blues’ undefeated home record to 23 games to bring Graham Arnold’s men on par with Ange Postecoglou’s Brisbane side of 2010-11.
Not only that, the ruthless performance equalled Sydney’s biggest A-League win of all time and lifts them eight points clear at the top.
For the Glory, Saturday night became their eighth consecutive – and worst ever – loss to Sydney in all competitions, an unenviable record that leaves their top-six spot far less secure.
Despite that, the visitors’ start showed promise this chapter might not stick to the script, as Perth 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, Kenny Lowe’s side 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, as usual, was 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 though.
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.
Eight 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.
It was Sydney’s 11th win from 13 matches played so far this A-League season.
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