Soccer: Adelaide heap more misery on Sydney FC

Sergio Van Dijk of Adelaide celebrates after scoring his team's third goal. Photo / Getty Images

Sydney FC's miserable start to the season hit a new low after the reigning A-League champions were outclassed 3-1 by high-flying Adelaide United at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

In front of just 7557 fans - their lowest ever home crowd - on a miserable Sydney night, the Sky Blues were taken apart by a rampant Adelaide with Sergio van Dijk scoring a double and impressive strike partner Matthew Leckie also finding the net.

Defender Stephan Keller pulled one back in an improved second half performance from the home side but it did little to prevent Vitezslav Lavicka's side plunging deeper into a form slump.

Without a win in the opening five rounds, Sydney have now made their slowest start in six seasons of the A-League and equalled their longest winless streak from season two under Terry Butcher.

Adelaide, meanwhile, continue to exceed expectations under Dutchman Rini Coolen and are sitting pretty atop the league with three wins and two draws.

They looked far superior, particularly in the first half, with Leckie's pace and Van Dijk's power causing plenty of headaches for Sydney's back four.

There was a touch of fortune about Adelaide's opener, with Van Dijk's free-kick taking a deflection of Nick Carle in the ninth minute.

But their second was all class, with Leckie superbly finishing off a clinical counter attack after Carle had given away possession at the other end.

Paul Reid unleashed Leckie with a pinpoint pass using the outside of his boot and the promising striker made easy work of a tricky angle.

The Reds could have gone into halftime with an even greater lead had Sydney `keeper Liam Reddy not made two great saves to deny Leckie and Adam Hughes.

Sydney's best chance of the first half fell to striker Mark Bridge, but he couldn't get a header on target while Carle also came close after some dazzling footwork.

Sydney lost midfielder Stuart Musialik to a hip injury at halftime but came out from the break with renewed intensity.

However it wasn't long before Adelaide increased their margin when Van Dijk showed his strength to turn in a fumbled Leckie effort in 53rd minute.

Sydney pulled one back five minutes later when Keller beat Eugene Galekovic with a brilliant header from Sung-Hwan Byun's free kick before the Swiss defender missed what looked an easier chance minutes later.

With Alex Brosque (ankle) and Terry McFlynn (hamstring) still missing, Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine made his debut off the bench but had little impact on a frustrating night.

- AAP