Tiago Calvano fires Sydney FC to 7-1 romp

Sydney were a different team with the inclusion of their newest signing Tiago Calvano who inspired his teammates to a 7-1 win over Wellington Phoenix that included four goals from Del Piero. 

Del Piero, a football god. Credit: Football Through A Lens

Calvano spurred on all his former Newcastle Jets counterparts - Joel Griffiths, Ali Abbas and Jason Culina - to the biggest win in their new club's history.

All except Jeremy Brockie, that is.

Griffiths began his debut with an 11th minute striker's goal, reading the play well and latching on to a Del Piero cross, scoring with his first touch and giving the Sky Blues an early lead.

Del Piero turned hattrick scorer first in the 20th minute and then in the 22nd and finished it in the 38th. Last week's super sub Terry McFlynn again provided an assist into the box for the first goal, Del Piero turning on the spot and completing the move.

The Italian's second came from the penalty spot after Jason Culina was adjudged to have been brought down in the box. He wasn't. But Del Piero scored anyway.

The hattrick was completed with the marquee again taking his time inside the box and ultimately whipping a ball past Nix' keeper Mark Paston.

Between Ale's second and third, Jason Culina put one between the sticks, giving Sydney FC a 5-0 lead before half time.

But Il Pinturicchio wasn't quite finished. On 70 minutes he bagged his forth goal of the game, moving him to fourth on the 2012/13 A-League goalscorer tally with nine.

In his long and illustrious career it's the first time Alessandro Del Piero has scored four goals in a match. Like, ever.

Yairo Yau more than sealed the deal with a killer finish to substitute Blake Powell's flick pass in the 84th minute.

Wellington had little response, utterly dominated by a side only one place ahead of them going into the match. Sydney now jump into equal sixth on the A-League ladder. A late goal to Ben Sigmund almost went unnoticed by the Sydney crowd, who will be celebrating this night for many weeks to come.