Former Queenslander Steve Corica returned to haunt his old state by propelling Sydney FC to a spectacular 3-1 A-League victory at Suncorp Stadium.

Corica twice put the glamour boys of the new competition ahead before Terry McFlynn sealed the much-needed win over the Queensland Roar in front of 23,142 Brisbane fans.

McFlynn's pin-point chip to punish Roar keeper Tom Willis for an ill-conceived and sloppy pass in front of goal ended the contest but it was his fellow midfielder who effectively snared the three points.

At 1-1 in the 67th minute, a free-running Queensland had gained the ascendancy before Corica volleyed brilliantly from the edge of the box after a Ufuk Talay corner.

It was the second goal for the night for the Cairns-born, Innisfail-raised former Socceroo who opened his A-League account by scoring in the fifth minute.

Corica, 32, started the movement with a midfield run and then finished it by latching onto an embarrassing error from Roar midfielder Hyuk-Su Seo on the edge of the box.

Sydney, who now move to equal second on the table, looked ominous from the outset with midfielder Terry McFlynn drilling a shot on goal after only 30 seconds.

It was only Willis's admirable diving save which kept the large home crowd composed.

Tempers flared midway through the half with rival skippers Dwight Yorke and Chad Gibson engaging in a push and shove and then a heated exchange after the star striker was grounded in a feisty challenge.

Roar coach Miron Bleiberg surprisingly started with dangerous strikers Alex Brosque and Jonathan Richter both on the bench.

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