Adelaide United have moved to the top of the A-League table after surviving an onslaught from Sydney FC before recording a 1-0 win.

It was the home side who made all of the early running with Marc Janko proving a constant threat, but the Austrian couldn't convert his first opening after meeting a cross from Bernie Ibini-Isei.

Moments later, Ibini-Isei almost got on the scoresheet himself but saw his effort deflected wide, before Alex Brosque was denied from close range by Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.

Adelaide were struggling to find any momentum going forward, and Galekovic was forced into action for a second time in quick succession to keep out Janko. The United stopper was at it again to keep out a low drive from Brosque just before the half-time whistle.

Soon after the restart, Sydney were back on the front foot, with Janko having a goal correctly ruled out for offside and Brosque flicking the ball wide from close range.

It was one-way traffic, and shortly before the hour mark, Galekovic produced another fine intervention to prevent Brosque's volley from finding the back of the net.

However, slowly but surely, Adelaide began to have more joy up the opposite end of the pitch, and with seven minutes remaining, they stunned their hosts with an opener.

A long ball from Galekovic found Awer Mabil, who proceeded to cut inside his marker before firing the ball into the far corner of the net to give Adelaide a one-point lead over Wellington Phoenix.