Two goals from Del Piero not enough for Sydney FC

SYDNEY - Agence France-Presse

EPA photo

Italian Iacopo La Rocca scored the winner for new boys Western Sydney as superstar compatriot Alessandro Del Piero grabbed a dazzling double yet lost in this weekend’s Australian A-League action.

La Rocca’s header in the 15th minute proved the winner for Tony Popovic’s Wanderers in a 1-0 win at Perth Glory yesterday to move into the top five in its maiden season.

Italian World Cup winner Del Piero was outstanding with two classic strikes but it was still not enough to save troubled Sydney FC from plunging to a 4-2 loss against champions Brisbane Roar on Nov. 16.

Del Piero, 38, netted twice in seven minutes, scoring a cracking volley from outside the box and then playing a sweet one-two before dummying his way past goalkeeper Michael Theo to claim his brace and his fifth goal of the season.

Sydney, who lost coach Ian Crook last week, and is on the lookout for its seventh coach in as many years.

Adelaide United remains the leader of the competition following its 1-0 win over John Aloisi’s Melbourne Heart at home on Nov. 17.

Argentine Jeronimo Neumann was gifted the Reds’ match-winner by a blunder from defender Simon Colosimo.

Ten-man Central Coast Mariners held on for a 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory in Melbourne on Nov. 17.

The Mariners’ Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk was red-carded in the 50th minute after both sides scored two goals each in the first half.