Melbourne Victory slumped to a surprise 1-0 home defeat to strugglers Newcastle Jets on Friday to leave the race for this season's A-League title wide open.
Newcastle were bottom of the standings going into the AAMI Park encounter but secured a much-needed victory courtesy of Edson Montano's close-range finish on 54 minutes.
The Jets' third win of the season moved them above Western Sydney Wanderers in the standings.
Sydney FC capitalised by beating Perth Glory 3-0 to join them and the Victory at the top of the pile on 44 points.
A brace of goals from Alex Brosque -- either side of a second-half Bernie Ibini stunner -- earned victory for Graham Arnold's side.
Perth suffered double misery on Friday when Football Federation Australia announced their exclusion from this season's finals because of salary cap breaches.