Sydney FC coach Ante Juric has compared rising midfielder Sarah Hunter to Socceroos legend Tim Cahill, as his side produced one of the finest performances of his tenure with a 3-0 home victory over second-placed Melbourne City.
Their A-League Women win at Allianz Stadium brought the third-placed Sky Blues to within a point of City, who suffered just a second loss in their last eight games.
Well taken goals from Sarah Hunter in the 27th minute, Cortnee Vine just after halftime and Madison Haley in the 71st secured a well-deserved win.
Hunter curled a right foot shot over goalkeeper Sally James and just inside the post.
"She (Hunter) pops up with vital goals at the right time, she reminds me of Tim Cahill probably, where when you need a goal he stepped up and he put himself there and probably imagined it and I can see Hunter is the same," Juric said.
Vine doubled the lead within two minutes of the resumption, rounding off a lethal counter attack by calmly rolling the ball past Sally James from just inside the area after being put through by Mackenzie Hawkesby.
Haley's fine sliding finish from a fine Vine cross put the seal on a strong Sydney performance.
"At halftime I told the girls it was probably the best I've seen for the five years that. I've been here," Juric said.
"It was intense it was quick, they didn't get out of their half.
"We had a lot of chances we didn't put away, it was unbelievable.
"The second half we were trying to finish off the game, being a bit deeper and they came at us.
"The first half was a different level but the second half was still very professional and all up one of the better ones I've been involved with, not just this year."
The enterprise of Vine, Hawkesby and Haley caused City plenty of problems.
City's best moments came at the start and the end of the first half.
Hannah Wilkinson's close-range third-minute shot was blocked by goalkeeper Tahlia Franco.
Sydney then enjoyed a good spell with a Haley shot kept out by Kate Bowen, with replays suggesting the defender may have blocked the ball with a hand.
Hunter went close with another long range effort just before halftime, but City had chances in added time at the end of the half with leading goalscorer Rhianna Pollicina hitting the woodwork twice.
"We had a way that we wanted to play to try and overload them In the midfield, but for large parts it didn't work," City coach Dario Vidosic said.
"We chose the wrong option many times we gave the ball away and against them it's so dangerous ... we lost it in poor areas and we got punished.
"I'll put my hand up, maybe it was my fault, maybe I asked a little bit too much from us."
