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AAP
AAP
Sport
Anna Harrington

Victory beat Sydney 4-1, go top in ALM

Melbourne Victory have gone top of the ALM ladder after a thumping win at Sydney FC. (AAP)

Melbourne Victory have beaten Sydney FC 4-1 away to leap to top of the A-League Men table and throw down their claim to the premiership.

Nick D'Agostino's remarkable individual goal gave Victory the lead in the 14th minute but two minutes later Adam Le Fondre pulled off a wonderful chip to equalise.

Jake Brimmer and Jason Geria sent Victory clear in the 30th and 38th minutes before Brendan Hamill added an exclamation mark with his goal in the 87th.

Saturday night's win, Victory's first over the Sky Blues in 10 attempts, sent them two points clear of Melbourne City and three ahead of Western United - who are both yet to play their final-round matches - and all but seal a top-two spot and a week off in finals.

It effectively scuppers Western United's premiership hopes, as John Aloisi's side would need to beat Adelaide by at least six goals on Sunday, and also means Melbourne City must defeat Wellington on Monday night to land the premiers plate.

But Victory, who are now 15 games unbeaten, will sweat on a shoulder concern for star striker D'Agostino who was in serious pain after landing on his already-strapped left shoulder in the 44th minute.

Victory struck first when Socceroo D'Agostino flicked the ball past Alex Wilkinson, charged forward, cut inside James Donachie, cut outside and then smashed the ball, on a tight angle, into the roof of the net.

He celebrated with the travelling Victory fans, who in their exuberance, had the Kogarah fence collapse underneath them.

Two minutes later Kosta Barbarouses worked the ball to Le Fondre, who chested it down then brilliantly dipped a left-footed chip over Ivan Kelava.

Sydney arguably should have been down to 10 men in the 28th minute when Paulo Retre cynically fouled D'Agostino as the last defender.

From the subsequent free kick, Brimmer sent his shot up and over the wall for a memorable goal.

Eight minutes later, Brimmer swung a wonderful corner to the near post for Geria to glance home.

The second half was far less eventful and though Sydney's Bobo entered in the 71st minute for his final home appearance.

Victory rounded out their performance when Jason Davidson's late corner bobbled around in the box and Hamill charged in to smash home a header.

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