The Sky Blues have continued their winning form in dramatic style, smashing the Reds 4-0 on Boxing Day in Adelaide.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Adelaide United 0
Sydney FC 4
Reigning A-League champions Adelaide United are rooted to the bottom of the ladder and face the unenvious task of trying to beat the undefeated Sydney FC. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm AEDT.
The only positive that Adelaide can take into tonight’s home contest against Sydney FC is the fact that they nearly beat the premiership favourites several rounds ago at Allianz Stadium.
On that occasion, Sydney were lucky to escape with a nil-all draw at home against an Adelaide side that has only one victory next to its name this season.
Adelaide are currently a shadow of their former selves. Earlier this year, Adelaide was rightfully proclaimed the A-League’s best team after defeating the Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 in the grand final.
Since that historic win, Adelaide has secured just one victory against Wellington to go along with three draws and seven defeats. To be fair, the Reds have lost plenty of talent since emerging as A-League champions and are currently rebuilding a once formidable squad.
Sydney FC meanwhile continues to go from strength to strength. They are comprehensively outplaying teams home and away, with their recent demolition of Perth Glory the latest evidence pointing to what seems an inevitable conquest of the A-League championship.
Graham Arnold’s men are firing on all cylinders but tonight’s contest does represent a danger game for the Sky Blues. Adelaide does remain one of the few teams to have held Sydney scoreless so the Reds will be quietly confident of causing an upset at home.
If Adelaide hopes to limit Sydney’s efficiency in possession, they will have to shut down Milos Ninkovic. The Sydney FC playmaker only trails Melbourne Victory’s Marco Rojas for assists thus far and he is enjoying his football under Graham Arnold. If Ninkovic is allowed to dictate terms, Sydney should be favoured to open Adelaide right up.
Prediction
Adelaide just hasn’t been able to hit the heights of last season’s championship-winning run. At home, they deserve respect but Sydney at the moment remain too difficult to tip against it.
Sydney to win 2-1
Aethelbert
Guest
Not sure if it's a record but that's the 5th time my boys have netted 4 in a game.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow, the third goal was football in it's purest form. Go the smurfs! Very enjoyable to watch. Goal difference is ridiculous. Keep working hard boys.
144
Roar Guru
A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y Destroyed
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Surely season over for Reds. Will Amor be there next season? They need to sort themselves out ASAP or else they'll bleed players and whatever little confidence they have.
Alan
Roar Guru
After 30 minutes or so in the first half, Adelaide were competing well against Sydney. By the 60th minute however, the game was all over as Sydney began to run riot en route to a 4 nil victory. Sydney too clinical and too good. They are now 10 points ahead of second placed Brisbane. 10 points! Sydney are flying high, like Icarus was....will they fall? Only time will tell. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
Three added minutes of misery for Adelaide.... Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
89' - All the yellow cards awarded have gone to Sydney FC with O'Neill the latest to get booked. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
87' - Both teams going through the motions. Sydney had this wrapped up by the 55th minute. Gulf in class between the two sides is huge as the table rightfully suggests. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
85' - Adelaide continue to search for that maiden goal tonight. Not clinical enough. Adelaide in a deep hole. It will take time to recover. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
82' - Before this thrashing, Adelaide would have been pretty proud of their record against Sydney FC. Adelaide though have fallen apart tonight, like many teams before them this season to Sydney FC.... Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Plenty of soul searching for Adelaide to do. Simon and Ibini have come on for Sydney. Every member of Sydney's squad contributing. Too good. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Matt Simon coming on. Fireworks.
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Sydney could finish with five or six goals tonight. Adelaide just going through the motions here as they experiment in attack given that the game is all but lost for the hosts. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
jamesb
Guest
Must be a record for the amount of times a side has scored 4 goals in a season.
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - The great thing about Sydney this season concerns the fact that they are scoring goals and not conceding as well. Perfect attack and perfect defence. The complete package. As I said though, Victory and City do have what it takes to challenge them when the finals roll around. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
72' - Adelaide hitting rock bottom at home. Is the only way up next round for the reigning A-League champions? As for Sydney, how long can they keep this up? Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
Sydney carving Adelaide up after a competitive start from the hosts. Sydney though will face increasing pressure to win the league. They are in a commanding position, as Melbourne were and Sydney were in the NRL and AFL respectively....neither team however went on to win their respective league... Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
Carrusca's reaction after getting subbed off says it all. Kicks the bottle and hits the fence. Frustration all around. I saw this coming I have to say after Adelaide won last year. They were always going to struggle to back their efforts up from last season. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4
Alan
Roar Guru
Holosko hit the woodwork with his effort and then Brosque on the follow-up gets his second goal of the night! Gee dark times for Adelaide. Sydney enjoying themselves and they are firm favourites for the A-League championship. Adelaide 0 Sydney 4