With six games still to play, Janko is already Sydney FC's new record holder for most goals in one season after netting his 16th of the campaign in a nail-biting 5-4 win in horrid conditions over the reigning A-League champions.

It was fitting that Russian-based owner David Traktovenko was watching from the stands as Janko again was decisive in a win that increased Sydney's credentials as genuine title challengers. Yet again, their attack masked a porous defence, but  the Sky Blues moved to second spot on the table after extending their attacking record to 25 goals in their last seven games.

No sooner had the game began before the heavens opened up above Moore Park. Heavy rain and unforgiving winds forced fans to flock to higher grounds, venue staff to abandon their on-field posts and the players became stuck in the heavy surface.

That storm presented the perfect conditions for a man nicknamed "the slippery fish" to strike. Brisbane striker Henrique skipped past a static Matt Jurman to latch on to a to move one-on-one with Sydney FC goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic and made no mistake with a simple finish. However, the hosts could have been rightfully aggrieved after replays showed Henrique was marginally offside.

It mattered little and not for long as Jurman immediately atoned for his side's sloppy start. For some reason the centre-back was supporting strikers in attack and showed that he can finish as good as those in the forward line. Latching on to a cut-back, he curled a first-time shot into the top corner to draw level a minute after conceding.

In defence though, they were still disjointed. They should have conceded a second goal in the 22nd minute when a move down Brisbane's left flank by Corey Brown opened Sydney's defence with considerable ease. A well-weighted low cross found Jean Carlos Solorzano, who could have restored his side's lead with a simple tap-in. However, he sliced his shot over the bar from point-blank range.

Janko was presented the perfect chance to set a new A-League record of scoring in seven consecutive games after Alex Brosque was  fouled by Adam Sarota inside the box. There was only going to be one outcome when up stepped Janko to slot his 14th goal of the season.

Janko heaped more pressure on the Sydney FC board to extend his contract for a second season, when he scored his second, meeting a Chris Naumoff cross into the net unmarked at the back post to make it 3-1. The breathing space and comfort of a two-goal buffer was reflected in the rise in standard of Sydney's  play immediately after.

Mickael Tavares and Milos Dimitrijevic were the architects of a composed play that rendered the Roar helpless to a challenge any greater than chasing shadows and that frustration is probably what prompted defender Corey Brown to shove Marc Janko inside the box. There was little choice for Kris Griffiths-Jones to point to the spot and give the Austrian a chance to seal his hattrick.

However, the assurance of three points that goal should have provided was quickly dashed. Nikola Petkovic bundled Brandon Borrello inside the box to allow Andrija Kaluderovic a goal from the spot before Steven Lustica pounced on relaxed defending to ensure a tense finish.  But, this day belonged to Sydney. They saved their best for last as a lovely fluid move was capped off by Alex Brosque to make it five, before Dimitri Petratos clawed one back at the death.