Del Piero tight-lipped on Abbas spat

14 January 2013 04:07

Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero has declined to reveal the details of his on-field disagreement with team-mate Ali Abbas.

Del Piero and Abbas argued heatedly after the latter was substituted late in the first half of Sunday's match against Melbourne Heart, as Sydney coach Frank Farina attempted to get his misfiring team back in the game after the hosts had gone 1-0 behind.

Two late goals - the winner coming four minutes into time added on via a Del Piero assist - handed the Sky Blues a season-reviving 2-1 win amid frenzied scenes at Allianz Stadium.

Del Piero later tweeted a photo of himself throwing a mock punch at a smiling Abbas in the Sydney dressing-room but was reluctant to discuss the incident.

He instead used his personal website to hail Sydney's fighting qualities.

"This victory is really precious for our position on (the) table but above all for our team's spirit and our chances to succeed (in the future)," Del Piero wrote.

"(The) success against Melbourne Heart is very important because it confirms a progression we've demonstrated on the pitch at the beginning of this new year.

"Once again a recovery and this time it brought us three points.

"Our supporters were there for us and helped us a lot.

"Now let's concentrate on the next challenge, our home match against Wellington Phoenix on the 19th of January."

Victory in that match could catapult the Sky Blues into sixth spot if other results go their way.