South Melbourne's 6-0 romp over the Football Kingz on Sunday night has taken them to the top of the Australian NSL points table on goal difference from Parramatta Power.
Previous leaders and defending champions Perth Glory have slipped to third after their surprise 1-0 away loss to NewcastleUnited - Perth's third loss of the season.
Esala Masi's 82nd goal snapped a six-game winless streak for United.
Adelaide United picked up two points from a busy weekend.
They drew 2-2 at home to Wollongong Wolves in their scheduled 11th-round fixture and then played out a scoreless draw with Sydney Olympic on Sunday in a postponed first-round game.
Parramatta continue to impress.
In beating Northern Spirit 3-0, with goals to Ante Milicic (2) and Ahmad Elrich, Parramatta extended their unbeaten run at home to 18 games stretching back more than a year.
With 25 goals from 10 games, Parramatta are the leading goalscorers and Milicic has taken his tally to 10.
Brisbane Strikers kept themselves in the top four with their 1-0 home win over Melbourne Knights after Warren Moon grabbed a beauty in the 66th minute.
The points were shared at the Sydney United Sports Centre where the home team and Marconi Stallions played out a 1-1 draw.
Adelaide, who blew a late lead in their first game of the weekend which allowed Wollongong to snatch a point, are in Auckland on Saturday to play the Football Kingz at Ericsson Stadium.
