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Austrian international Marc Janko bagged a brace in the match where Sydney dominated from start to finish.
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Sydney dominated the first half and right from the onset showed their intent to chase the game.
All the possession took place in City’s defence half with Sydney looking threatening on each push forward.
They took a much deserved lead in the tenth minute when Janko was on hand to head home an inch-perfect Bernie Ibini post.
Even in these early moments of the game Ibini looked likely to hurt City with his sheer pace. He got into space in the right to send a ball straight on top of Janko’s head who had little to do to place the ball in the net.
City goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was nowhere to be seen for the goal, stuck to his neat post when the middle of his goal was so isolated.
Even though it was a much deserved goal thanks to the good work of Ibini and Sydney’s dominace up to that point, Redmayne should have done better.
The Austrian International come ever so close to making it two in the 24th minute when he sent his header from a Pedj Bojic cross against the post.
After the opening barrage from Sydney, City did manage to get themselves into the game.
It looked as though they had a penalty just two minutes after conceding the opener when Damien Duff was clean on goal.
Duff broke the offside trap and was clean on goal with only Janjetovic to beat. Duff couldn’t get past the Sydney keeper and looked as though to be brought down but not was waved away. So convinced he was fouled in the box, Duff picked up the ball to place it on the penalty spot only to be called for a handball.
Janjetovic was in final touch in the first half, denying any threat City were able to conjure.
A diving save from a Mate Dugandzic header a particular highlight.
Sydney had two glorious opportunities to make it two close to the first half by Janko and Ali Abbas but both scuffed their line after becoming one-on-one with Redmayne.
Sydney put the cue in the rack in the second half, more than happy to sit on the one goal advantage.
City dominated the second half possession but couldn’t make it count.
Attack after attack went to nothing, due to Sydney’s defence being on top and City at times looking clueless.
The mountain of possession was wasted by City’s ineptitude up front.
Sydney made their profligacy in front of goal pay when Janko made it two in the 82nd minute.
Janko took advantage of a defensive mistake to stroll into the box to place the ball past a hopeless Redmayne
Eric Parrtalu did manage to bag a consolation goal from a corner before a frantic finish ensued.
Milos Dimijetrovic was given his marching orders just shy of the 90 to leave Sydney with 10 men and City the chance to grab a memorable point.
Just like the entire half, City had all the ball in the five minutes of added time but just couldn't find a way through Sydney’s defence, handing them all the points.
Not to take away from a fine Sydney performance, City were poor, again.
The main problem for City is that nothing has changed, and more alarmingly it doesn't look like changing anytime soon
Same problems up front and same problems in defence.
Something has to give, and fast.
Melbourne City: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Rob WIELAERT, 5. Erik PAARTALU, 28. Liam MILLER (25. Jacob MELLING 46’), 7. Iain RAMSAY, 6. Aaron MOOY, 11. Damien DUFF, 15. David WILLIAMS (14. James BROWN 66’), 23. Mate DUGANDZIC (26. Marc MARINO 77’), 24. Patrick KISNORBO (c), 17. Jason HOFFMAN
Unused substitutes: 20. Tando VELAPHI (GK), 27. Ross ARCHIBALD
Sydney FC: 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 2. Seb RYALL, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Nikola PETKOVIC, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 21. Marc JANKO (9. Shane SMELTZ 90′), 11. Bernie IBINI-ISEI, 16. Alex GERSBACH, 17. Terry ANTONIS, 14. Alex BROSQUE (c), 22. Ali ABBAS (23. Rhyan GRANT 69’)
Unused substitutes: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI (GK), 13. Chris NAUMOFF, 25. Aaron CALVER