Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold was at a loss to explain yet another defeat at Allianz Stadium after going down to a lone goal courtesy of a late winner by Awer Mabil and a standout performance by Reds goalkeeper and captain Eugene Galekovic.
All of Sydney's losses this season have come at home and none more crucial than that against the Reds, which dented the Sky Blues' hopes of clinching the Premier's Plate.
With just three weeks remaining before the finals Sydney have slipped to fourth spot and could end the round as low as fifth should Perth beat Newcastle on Monday.
But with the top four teams to earn a home final, finishing fifth may not be such a bad thing for Sydney, which has yet to taste defeat on the road this campaign.
Saturday's loss was near identical to that which it suffered at the hands of Melbourne City two weeks ago before going across the Tasman to thump Wellington Phoenix 3-0 last Sunday
Arnold, who has even tried recreating the away game build up for his players by getting them to stay in a hotel before home games, admits the results have mystified him.
"Things happen for a reason. At this moment we don't know what that reason is for the Melbourne City game and tonight," he said.
"But it will make us a much stronger team. It's character building.
"Allianz is a beautiful stadium and I've had a lot of great success here.
"We're having tough times here at the moment but it's happening for a reason and for the big games it will turn.
"I go home tonight and I sleep well because we played great."
Luckily for Arnold's men, the loss to Adelaide was the last home game of the regular season with trips to Perth, Newcastle and Wellington rounding out Sydney's run home.
With the race to the top the tightest it has ever been Arnold suspects there'll be several more changes on the ladder before the season ends.
"There'll be a lot of twists and turns between now and then," he said.
"But all we can do is worry about ourselves and finish as high up the ladder as possible."
