Alou Kuol scored his second goal of the season as Central Coast Mariners moved top of the A-League table with a 2-0 win over defending champions Sydney FC on Friday.

Sydney suffered their first loss of the campaign at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Ben Warland scoring an own goal before Kuol came off the bench to seal all three points for the Mariners.

Warland turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Matt Simon eight minutes into the second half after an incisive run from Daniel Bouman, who was making his first A-League start.

Teenage forward Kuol gave Alen Stajcic's side breathing space 16 minutes from time with a deflected strike on the break.

The Mariners lost their 100 per cent record with a loss against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday but responded superbly to go two points clear at the summit.