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Del Piero soldiered on with injury

29 October 2012-AAP

Resilient... Alessandro Del Piero pushed through hamstring problems to take the field against Perth Glory (Getty)

Superstar Alessandro Del Piero almost missed Sydney FC's A-League win over Perth due to hamstring worries but he insists there isn't a problem.

Del Piero scored for the third successive week in the come-from-behind 2-1 win at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, converting a second-half penalty won by fellow marquee star Brett Emerton.

It wasn't the finest performance of Del Piero's time in the A-League so far and he appeared to tire late in the match.

But amid pre-match concerns that the Italian needed to rest, it was an admirable showing as he soldiered on for another 90-minute performance.

"I had a problem with the hamstrings. Both, especially the left, and it's been a hard week for me," Del Piero said.

"... But I'm really happy today because I play 90 minutes, score and win."

Sydney coach Ian Crook asked Del Piero if he wanted to come from the field in the second half but the 37-year-old was having none of it.

"Especially after the goal, I'm feeling good and I want to fight and play again and win the game," Del Piero said.

"That's why I said to him 'I'm OK'."

Del Piero did not believe he needed to give his body a rest and said he would be close to full fitness for next Saturday's clash with Central Coast in Gosford.

The former Juventus striker had animated discussions with some of Sydney's staff and players after the match, saying he still felt they had a lot to work on.

"We can improve, that's why," he said.

"We can improve and be better and that's why all of us have to do better than we do now."

With three goals from four games, Del Piero's Sydney FC career has started brilliantly but he said his focus was on getting wins rather than improving his personal goal tally.

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