Star recruit Tisserand broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with a headed goal at a windy Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, before Joe Lolley found the back of the net deep into added time to help launch the Sky Blues to second on the table.
Paul Okon Englster, off the back of a Socceroos call-up for friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia, delivered a superb cross for central defender Tisserand to score after a corner kick.
Tisserand joined Sydney FC on a two-year deal in the off-season after stints in Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and, most recently, the Saudi Pro League.
With the Sky Blues up 1-0, Patrick Wood came off the bench in the 78th minute and marked his 100th game with an assist for Lolley's late goal in front of 10,817 fans.
Sydney FC now boast three straight wins after starting their season with a loss.
The Sky Blues are second (3-0-1), one point off defending premiers Auckland FC (3-1-0).
"I don't think we're at our best, but we're not at our best and we're still winning games," Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said.
"It was always one goal that was going to open the game up."
Mile Sterjovski's Macarthur - who are also competing in the ACL Two - remain outside the top six in eighth (1-1-2) ahead of the international break.
Sterjovski was left lamenting a foul call on Harrison Sawyer for downing Sky Blues goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares in the 52nd minute at 0-0.
Devenish-Meares had collected a cross from Callum Talbot, before colliding with Sawyer in front of the net.
"The keeper, he's the one who came into Sawyer," Sterjovski said.
"It would have been a goal for us, and it would've changed the result - that's the only thing I'm disappointed in."
Former Sky Blues stalwart Anthony Caceres stood tall for the Bulls in the midfield, but couldn't spark the away side in his first match against Sydney FC.
Caceres had moved to Macarthur in the off-season in a bid to bolster his chances for a World Cup spot with the Socceroos.
Both sides struggled to convert their chances in an even first-half, taking seven shots at goal each.
Tisserand's fellow Sydney recruit Al Hassan Toure - bolstered by a career-first hat-trick in last week's 4-1 win over Newcastle - looked dangerous early with two individual long-range shots.
At the other end, goalkeeper Devenish-Meares was forced into a full stretch to deny Bulls striker Rafael Duran in the 24th minute.
Macarthur midfielder Liam Rose almost gifted the hosts the opener in the 58th minute after giving Toure possession.
Toure combined with Okon-Englster, who forced Bulls shotstopper Filip Kurto to produce a brilliant save.
Okon-Englster and Toure are chasing their first Socceroos caps when Australia travel overseas later this month, with the latter's recent hat-trick earning him a maiden call-up.
Toure finished Sunday's clash goalless after being substituted off for former Western United star Abel Walatee in the 70th minute.
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