A-League: Sydney FC 0 Melbourne Heart 4

Melbourne Heart stamped themselves as genuine contenders for the A-League title with a 4-0 win over Sydney FC on Thursday.

The Heart had never lost to Sydney in their short history in the A-League and extended that run to five games as the Melbourne team scored their biggest-ever win with a clinical display.

First-half goals to youngster Eli Babalj and Mate Dugandzic, followed by second-half strikes from substitutes Jason Hoffman and Alex Terra ensured the Heart handed Sydney their worst-ever home defeat.

The win was the second-placed Heart’s fifth in a row and gives them a four-point edge over the Brisbane Roar.

And the Heart are now only two points behind league leaders Central Coast.

Captaining the Sky Blues for the first time in the absence of suspended skipper Terry McFlynn, Socceroos midfielder Brett Emerton had another frustrating night, while goalkeeper Liam Reddy will have nightmares for some time for his howler which led to the Heart’s fourth goal.

The early stages were fairly scrappy with both sides enjoying good chunks of possession in their own half without being able to create anything of note going forward.

There was one contentious moment in the opening 30 minutes when Sky Blues striker Bruno Cazarine chased down a through ball, getting to it first and heading past an advancing Clint Bolton before being clattered into by the Heart custodian.

While Bolton failed to make any contact with the ball, referee Peter Green waved away Sydney’s appeals for a penalty.

It proved a vital decision just four minutes later as the Sky Blues’ habit for giving away the opening goal continued when young striker Babalj gave the visitors the lead.

The Heart’s second goal came right on the stroke of half-time when Rutger Worm put in a perfect cross to give Dugandzic an easy tap-in.

The game was made safe when Dugandzic was again involved, setting up Hoffman for a 3-0 lead.

It got worse for Sydney six minutes from the end after Reddy inexplicably dropped the ball after making a save, allowing the alert Terra to gather possession and dribble the ball into an empty net.