SYDNEY DERBY SOLD OUT

This Saturday's A League 'Sydney Derby' has sold out. Sydney FC's Sydney Football Stadium, (Allianz Stadium) will be packed to its 45,500 capacity, hosting the visiting Western Sydney Wanderers. The League's biggest derby appears to be unaffected by the expected absence of marquee man Alessandro Del Piero.

Sydney FC kicked off their season with a convincing win over the misfiring Newcastle Jets (whom I tipped). The Italian was instrumental in that victory with the first goal and a typically special play making performance. Unfortunately for Sydney FC Del fell injured last weekend against Brisbane Roar, when one of his visits to the turf proved serious. Sydney went on to receive a 4-nil drubbing from Brisbane who were admittedly dominant before Del's demise.

Just two games into the A League season and Western Sydney Wanderers have proven they remain hard to beat, but they're scoring habits also have a whiff of familiarity. After recruiting recently capped Socceroo Tom Juric and Brendan Santalab to the club to shore up attacking options Wests are yet to set the world on fire. Juric was used as a substitute in the opening round against Central Coast Mariners and tied the match with his volleyed tap in. However, he was unable to repeat the dose at home to Wellington. This has Wests heading into the derby undefeated but also winless.

Stoking the fires of the derby was Western Sydney's Jerome Polenz. The German import spoke on the likely absence of Alessandro Del Piero, "I think it will be better if Del Piero plays because my opinion is he's not running a lot, so there would be more holes for us to go through . . . Of course he's an outstanding player, but he's also not working defensively so I think it would be better if he plays." Meanwhile, Sydney FC youngster Joel Chianese was probed on the loss to Brisbane and the significance of Del Piero. Chianese said, "Whether he's in the team or not, we need to play our best and the way the coach wants us to play - not how we played on Saturday. We'll be better this week definitely."

Chianese's comments need to be backed up by his teammates this weekend, or things could once again turn ugly for the 'Sky Blues'. Farina's men looked lost last week, and Sydney can't afford a repeat performance of the uninspired sit back-athon. This could well play into the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers, whose success last season was owed to their ability to counter attack. Along with that, Tony Popovic is now clear of Socceroos managerial speculation (Postecoglou confirmed as Socceroos manager).

Whatever eventuates we can rest assured their will be a magical atmosphere at the Sydney Football Stadium, marking another step in soccer's incremental rise into Australian sporting relevance.

Del Piero Hits Four as Sydney Begin to Click

Del Piero celebrates another goal against Wellington

Alessandro Del Piero has blitzed the Wellington Phoenix, and in the process dragged Sydney FC into the A League top six temporarily. The Italian maestro was unstoppable as he inspired his teammates via a first half treble which had Wellington Phoenix resigned to defeat before half time.

Sydney FC are now back into end of season reckoning with today's remarkable victory. Coinciding with today's win was the Sydney FC debut of Australian international Joel Griffiths, who has spent the past three seasons in China with Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua. For the record the final score was 7-1, a scoreline which condemned Wellington to the bottom of the A League table. The win was also Sydney FC's biggest ever win.

For Del Piero the goals came in the 20th, 23rd, 39th and 70th minutes. The best of the goals came in the 39th minute when midfielder Jason Culina found Del Piero with a pin point switch of play which gave the Italian enough space to bamboozle Wellington's Leo Bertos, and smash home a ripper. Wellington keeper Paston was left flailing as the strike punched the corner of the goal to his left.

The win sounds a warning to Sydney's opponents and even Del Piero was buying into the new found momentum in a post match interview. Asked whether he thought today's win was the turning point for the season he replied, "I hope . . . I hope" before adding that last week's match was even more significant when against Melbourne Heart they turned around a 1-nil deficit with 5 minutes remaining.

Although trailing competition leaders Central Coast Mariners by 14 points with 10 matches left to play Sydney can still take away the A League's major prize as the season ends with a final series. Unlike most professional soccer leagues around the world the A League uses a final six format which virtually turns the final weeks of the season into a knockout competition.