Sydney beat Adelaide to extend lead at top of A-League

Masashi Hara/Getty Images

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A-League champions Sydney FC beat Adelaide United 1-0, with Brazilian striker Bobo scoring against the run of play.

The Sky Blues stretched their lead atop the table to five points before the weekend fixtures with their away win at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

Bobo's 45th-minute goal came against the tide as Adelaide controlled territory and possession but failed to land a telling blow on the title holders.

The Reds had 10 shots at goal in the first half to Sydney's two but only one Adelaide attempt was on target.

Adelaide's Nikola Mileusnic butchered his side's best first-half chance when his free header from close range sailed over the crossbar in the 36th minute.

Nine minutes later, the Sky Blues struck after a shrewd switch of play from Josh Brilliante, whose long ball was kept in by a diving Luke Wilkshire at the byline.

Wilkshire managed to get a boot to ball and curl it to the face of goal where Bobo was waiting and he coolly converted his fifth league goal this season.

Bobo also scored Sydney's match-winner in their 2-1 FFA Cup final against Adelaide 11 days ago.

The Reds, who could slip out of the top six by Sunday night, couldn't muster a shot on target after half-time before their home crowd of 7,021.

Sydney also found genuine second-half scoring chances scarce but enjoyed greater shares of possession on the way to their seventh win from nine league outings this campaign.