A-League wrap: Del Piero, Heskey on target again

20 October 2012 13:30

Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero slotted the only goal of the game in the first Sydney derby, as they beat Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0.

In a scrappy but hard-fought A-League clash, Del Piero's 54th-minute strike settled the issue and handed the Sky Blues - and new coach Ian Crook - their first win of the season as they got past their new rivals at Parramatta Stadium.

After receiving the ball just inside the Wanderers box, Del Piero twisted and turned his way past three defenders only to be caught by the trailing leg of Aaron Mooy.

The former Juventus skipper coolly converted the spot kick only for referee Strebre Delovski to order a retake after a couple of Sky Blues encroached into the penalty area.

Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic managed to save Del Piero's second attempt but the rebound fell straight back to the Sydney striker, who controlled the ball with his left foot before blasting it into the roof of the net.

The home side pushed hard for an equaliser but again lacked the finishing touch, with Sydney holding on for a vital three points in front of almost 20,000 fans.

In Saturday's other A-League clash, goals to Ryan Griffiths and Emile Heskey gave the Newcastle Jets a thrilling 2-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners in another pulsating derby.

Griffiths scored from the penalty spot in just the fifth minute of the match before Heskey doubled the advantage on the hour mark.

But in true derby fashion the Mariners came back with a goal to substitute Bernie Ibini in the 71st minute.

The Mariners piled on the pressure in the final stages of the clash and looked like they had pinched a share of the points when Patrick Zwaanswijk netted in injury time only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Jets midfielder Ruben Zadkovich set the tone early with his nasty leg-sweeping tackle on Mariners winger Joshua Rose yielding a yellow card - one of nine for the match.

Hutchinson: Mariners are better than Jets

19 October 2012 08:35

Central Coast captain John Hutchinson has declared his side are simply 'a better football team' than Newcastle ahead of Saturday's F3 derby at Hunter Stadium.

The Mariners have made a solid start to the season with a victory and draw from their opening two fixtures, but the Jets are flying high after a pulsating 3-2 triumph over Sydney last week.

But Hutchison is supremely confident his side will be able to get the three points, provided they play up to their standards.

"It's a good rivalry," Hutchinson said.

"Hopefully we can go there and give our crowd something to cheer about. We know they (Newcastle) are going to be pumped up for the game and they've come off a great win against Sydney, but we just need to be up for it.

"It's going to be a bit of a battle at the start. If we can win the battle and just play football we know we're a better football team and we should get the points.

"We see our supporters love it, our members want to win the game as well, and it's a massive game for them.

"As players of this wonderful football club, we know how important it is for them so we get fired up to win the game for them."

But Mariners assistant coach Phil Moss poured cold water on the expected fiery clash, saying picking up the three points is all that matters for he and coach Graham Arnold.

"Without putting a dampener on the derby it means to me three points, that's all that matters to me as a coach and I'm sure Arnie as well. For the supporters, it's fantastic," he said.


"There's that extra-added spice in the crowd and that electricity in the atmosphere that you can feel.

"We have to keep a lid on things as a coaching staff and players and just go there and get the three points. For the supporters, we're hoping to deliver bragging rights again for them."