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  • Del Piero scored after a penalty miss rebounded to his feet to give Sydney FC a 1-0 win in the first ever A-League Sydney Derby.

     

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    The Italian fell after Aaron Mooy left his leg trailing behind him while in the box. Strebre Delovski, in the biggest match since his long injury lay-off saw Del Piero trip and awarded penalty. Del Piero took the penalty but was ordered to re-take his successful first attempt. Covic once again proved the hero by saving the penalty but Sydney FC gained another huge stroke of luck with the rebound falling to the feet of the Italian striker. Del Piero managed to get the job done this time around and Sydney FC took the lead and held it for the remainder of the match.

     

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    In front of 19,126 passionate fans the Wanderers had 19 shots at goal in the match but only put 3 on target, a very worrying sign for manager Tony Popovic as the Wanderers head into a tough away clash in Brisbane next week. Sydney full back Fabio started off the match with repeated fouls but referee Strebre Delovski failed to issue a yellow card. The first shot of the match fell to ex-Newcastle Jet Ali Abbas but put it wide right. Seb Ryall and Brett Emerton continued the pattern of Sydney FC fouls and Delovski finally ran out of patience and handed the Sydney stand-in captain a yellow card for delaying a restart, to applause from the RBB.

     

    Del Piero skied the free kick from an Aaron Mooy foul on Kruno Lovrek, and followed that with a shot from outside the box that gave Covic his first real work to do in the match as he made a smart save down low. Minutes later Labinot Haliti took one of the first shots by the Wanderers but the effort was tame and well wide. Mitch Malia and Ali Abbas again wore the patience of the referee but he was lenient yet again and did not hand out any yellow cards. The failure of Devloski to punish the Sky Blues enabled them to press and tackle much harder than they otherwise might and I would hope that Popvoic is on the phone to the referees boss this week to ask why Strebre was so lenient to the away team.

     

    The 17th minute started a period of domination for the Wanderers with a D'Apuzzo shot which resulted in a corner taken by Shinji Ono. After the ball was cleared Polenz was fouled by Fabio, who again escaped sanction. Kresinger took a header chance but it was off target, then Ali Abbas fouled Aaron Mooy. Time and time again Sydney FC fouled to break up the Wanderers momentum and time and time again Delovski failed to give any yellow cards out. The game entered a battling phase once Kresinger was flagged offside. Fouls accumulated from both teams, and as usual the referee decided to keep the cards in his pocket for the persistent Sydney foulers. With 32 minutes played a well worked throw-in allowed Bridge time to shoot just outside the box, only for the shot to flash past the far post. After several fouls from Abbas and Del Piero the referee finally gave Abbas a yellow card shortly before half-time. The free-kicked awarded was taken by Aaron Mooy and his strong free kick stung the palms of Necevski in the Sydney FC goal. Mark Bridge was lurking for a follow up attempt with his head but the ball was deflected out for a corner which came to nothing to end the first half.

     

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    The first chance of the second half fell to Mark Bridge after a good run by Adam D'Apuzzo. The fullback cut inside and laid off a simple pass that Bridge ran on to and side footed towards goal. It was blocked by the Sydney FC defenders and went out for a throw-in. Poljak lofted a shot over the bar then came the crucial award of the penalty in the 55rd. Del PIero picked up the ball at the edge of the box after a 50/50 was lost by the Wanderers. Del Piero then dribbled into the area then cut the ball back. The Italian's legs tangled with Aaron Mooy's and Delovski award the penalty instantly. Del Piero slotted the first penalty in the right corner, but was ordered to retake it after his fellow players encroached. Covic heroically saved the second penalty but luck was with Sydney FC as the rebound fell straight to the feet of their marquee and he converted the simple 1 on 1 chance.

     

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    Aaron Mooy had several shots around the 60th minute but he put one wide and one was blocked. Sydney FC showed another disgraceful side of their play by beginning to time waste from the 60th minute. The first substitution of Lovrek by Antonis took an inordinate amount of time and Sydney FC did not stop their time-wasting for the rest of the match. Mark Bridge had another shot saved by Necevski then Poljak was given a well earned yellow card for a poor challenge from behind on Del Piero. Labinot Haliti was the first substitution of the match for the Wanderers with Hersi coming onto the wing. Nikolai Topor-Stanley missed the goal from a header. The oft-fouling Fabio was replaced by Petrovski, and on 75 minutes local hero Tarek Elrich came on to replace Poljak.

     

    Ivan Necevski finally earned a yellow card for blatant time wasting with 10 minutes to play, and in total their time-wasting lead to the decision to play six minutes of injury time. Mark Bridge had the last major chance for the Wanderers but his header yet again didn't trouble the keeper. The Wanderers were unable to mount any significant pressure during the injury time period and the game ended with a 1-0 loss to the Wanderers in the first ever A-League Sydney Derby.

     

    Tony Popovic will have to ring the changes, as the attack faltered yet again. The defence and midfield performed superbly but they are being let down by their point man. Dino Kresinger is consistently half a step behind where he needs to be and it is costing the Wanderers points. That match was there for the taking. No-one from Sydney FC except Del Piero showed much of a threat but Western Sydney were unable to capitalise. Kresinger will be a liability against the very fast paced Roar outfit that is up next. My choice if I was in Tony Popovic's position would be to drop Dino, and play with Kubi up front, Haliti and Tahj Minnecon on the wings. The team have played their hearts out but tactically the midfield is not linking up with the focus of the attack in a fashion that suits either group. By increasing the pace up front the midfield duo of Mooy and Ono can start to play defence splitting balls in behind the opposing defence and instead of having a lumbering target man they would have players with pace to burn running onto it.

     

    The Wanderers next match is against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday the 27th of October at 7:45 Eastern Daylight Savings Time.



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