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Unfortunately that may be the case now given that Sydney FC were humiliated by an ever-improving Adelaide United 3-0 at Allianz Stadium.
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The first opportunity fell to Fabio Ferreira in the early minutes but the shot from the former Fraser Park FC player was off target.
It’s hard to believe that such a quality player not so long ago was in the second tier competition in NSW. Sydney FC replied in the 9th minute when Hagi Gligor scooped a shot over the crossbar.
Adelaide United opened the scoring on the 16-minute mark when a long ball by Isaias found Ferreira who then beautifully set up Bruce Djite, who rarely fails to convert those sort of opportunities.
It wasn’t the best ever shot from the former Marconi Stallions striker, but it was enough to beat the outstretched hands of Vedran Janjetovic.
Adelaide United should have scored a few minutes later when a double chance went begging. Michael Zullo beat Sebastian Ryall for pace and then had his shot cleared off the line by Matt Jurman.
From the corner, the ball made its way out to Marcelo Carrusca who blasted his shot onto the post.
Ferreira doubled the score for the visitors in the 27th minute when he outpaced Gligor and with a powerful finish gave Janjetovic no hope of preventing the goal.
Sadly after this goal, we witnessed the ugly side of football when a so called “home fan” drenched Farina on the bench by throwing a drink over him.
The closest chance of the first half for the Sky Blues fell to Alessandro Del Piero when his free kick narrowly missed the intended target.
For a player approaching the end of his fourth decade of life, it is amazing that he constantly seems to be one of the best players for his side.
At the half time interval Farina made a double substitution sending on the very experienced Nicky Carle and Matt Thompson and replacing the rather inexperienced duo of Dylan Caton and Gligor.
The home side certainly came out of the sheds with renewed determination in the second half and the visitors were put under some pressure for the very first time in the encounter.
In the 60th minute an audacious attempt by Del Piero brought out the best in Eugene Galekovic between the posts but the best chance for the home side was arguably the one just seconds later.
Del Piero found Ranko Despotovic who, from relatively short range, pushed a chance that he really should of scored wide of the goal mouth.
Corey Gameiro, one of the best of a poor lot for Sydney FC, fell in the box in the 74th minute but referee Alan Milliner waved play on rather than awarding a spot kick.
Adelaide United drove a dagger through the heart of the Sydney FC fans shortly afterwards when a Sergio Cirio ball found Jeronimo Neumann who from close range made good with his finish. It was as good as over by then and the home fans poured out in droves.
Right at the death a bit of Del Piero magic in the box forced Galekovic into a another block and the rebound fell nicely to Despotovic who shot over. In the end this was the narrative of Sydney FC’s night. A night to forget at that.
Farina and the entire squad are now under immense pressure while Josep Gombau’s Adelaide United is growing ever so nicely after a rather shaky start to the season.
Adelaide United are now up to fifth place on the ladder ironically leapfrogging the hapless Sydney FC.
Sydney now face a crucial clash with Perth Glory next weekend while Adelaide will return home hoping to beat and jump above Central Coast Mariners.
SYDNEY FC: Janjetovic, Petkovic, Ryall, Jurman, Caton (46’ Carle), Abbas, Gligor (46’ Thompson), Dimitrijevic, Gameiro, Del Piero, Despotovic
ADELAIDE UNITED: Galekovic, Malik, McKain, Elrich, Boogard, Zullo (61’ Cirio), Isaias, Ferreira (63’ Jeronimo), Watson, Carrusca, Djite (73’ Marrone)