A moment of magic from Socceroos winger Awer Mabil has delivered Melbourne City a breakthrough 2-1 win over Sydney FC.

City looked in dire straits when Sydney's Socceroo Al Hassan Toure put the Sky Blues in front in the 36th minute at AAMI Park.

But new City signing Emiliano Marcondes came on at halftime and scored a terrific equaliser in the 46th minute, then teed up Mabil to score a wonderful winner to the crowd's delight 16 minutes later.

Mabil had gifted 100 tickets to members of the South Sudanese community, with a bus called the 'Awer Mobile' organised to help those fans attend the game.

City were without goalkeeper Macklin Freke (groin), with James Nieuwenhuizen starting instead, while Sydney coach Patrick Kisnorbo started teen sensation Akol Akon.

City had the better of the early running, with Andrew Nabbout, Medin Memeti and Quinn MacNicol all having chances go begging while Sydney's Oriola Sunday dragged a bobbling strike wide in the 20th.

Sydney scored when Oriola Sunday latched onto a long ball from Takehiro Sekine then cut back for Toure, who was given too much space and brilliantly curled a fantastic shot into the top corner.

City should have equalised in first-half added time when Behich whipped in a terrific ball for MacNicol, who nodded wide.

In the first minute of the second half, Nathaniel Atkinson's long throw-in was headed across goal by Julio Cascante and Marcondes leathered home.

A minute later, Marcondes almost turned provider for Andrew Nabbout, who headed onto the post.

Then, Mabil found Marcondes, whose header forced a save from Devenish-Meares.

Toure thought he'd put Sydney back in front in the 59th minute after being slipped through by Akon, but he was ruled offside.

Minutes later, Nabbout flicked the ball to Marcondes, who rode a challenge and cut the ball for Mabil, who found space between five defenders to score his first A-League goal in 11 years.

Atkinson pulled off an incredible athletic goal line clearance in the 79th minute to preserve City's lead.

Aurelio Vidmar's City (1-1-1) next host Western Sydney next Saturday while Sydney (1-1-1) host Central Coast on Friday.