HE set records on the pitch for one of the world's most famous teams, and now Alessandro Del Piero is already helping Australian football post milestones of its own.

The crowd of 35,419 that poured into Allianz Stadium on Saturday night to see the former Juventus star was not only a record for a regular season game involving Sydney FC, but the club's second highest in a competitive game.

They were rewarded with a brilliant free-kick from Del Piero to open his Sydney account, and also a goal from Newcastle's own European marquee player, Emile Heskey, as the Jets won 3-2.

But despite their disappointment at the score, Sydney were celebrating an emphatic victory off the field, with Del Piero's first game also prompting unprecedented merchandise sales.

Stadium officials reported the highest ever spending at the stadium's official store in the ground's 21-year history, beating even the NRL grand finals held there between 1988 and 1998.

media_camera MAGIC MOMENT: Alessandro Del Piero celebrates his first goal for Sydney FC. Picture: Mark Evans

It's believed the revenue from ticket sales was also close to $500,000, an astonishing sum for a game so early in the season - giving Sydney FC an early dividend from their share of that revenue on the $2 million a year they have invested to bring Del Piero to the club.

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Sydney CEO Tony Pignata is already keen to take steps to ensure the crowds return in similar droves for their next home game at Allianz Stadium. That won't be for almost four weeks because of resurfacing work. Their next home game will be at ANZ Stadium a week on Saturday.

Yesterday Pignata said tickets for that game, against Perth Glory, and the subsequent home fixture against Melbourne Victory on November 10 at Allianz Stadium, are already selling well.

"The key thing is to build on this and make sure it's not a one-game wonder," he said.

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"Result aside, we hope people at the game had an experience like never before and will keep coming back for more.

"It was a great game with five goals, and hopefully the next time the result will go in our favour. People were saying to me afterwards, 'thank you for bringing him to the club', and telling me they'd be back."

Sydney coach Ian Crook said that despite the result he believed there had been more than enough entertainment to lure occasional fans into a return visit.

media_camera SWEET STIRKE: Alessandro Del Piero scores for Sydney FC. Picture: Mark Evans

"If I was a spectator, I'd come back," he said.

"We just watched Del Piero produce another 90 minutes of what we all knew he could do, plus put the icing on the cake with the goal.

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"So I think people would have gone away disappointed that we got beat but they've seen a good game of football."

Pignata also paid tribute to The Cove, Sydney's core fan group, which just before kick-off held aloft a banner proclaiming: "Il Pinturicchio, Paint It Blue" in reference to Del Piero's nickname in Italy, after a Renaissance painter.

media_camera FAN FAVOURITE: A sign for Alessandro Del Piero is held up before play at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Ryan Pierse

He also said the decision to eschew the playing of music for the team's entry was more than justified.

"The banner held up by the Cove was amazing," he said.

"The fans told us they wanted to create the atmosphere, so I listened."

Originally published as Sydney net rewards from ADP mania