Piscopo answers challenge
Reno Piscopo has given an emphatic response to a challenge laid down by his coach to start producing goals.
The silky Wellington Phoenix midfielder scored a scintillating individual goal to set the tone for Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win over Perth Glory in Wollongong.
Piscopo received a pass from Alex Rufer inside the centre circle and dribbled towards the penalty area before unleashing a ferocious right-footed shot to beat goalkeeper Tando Velaphi from distance.
‘‘I asked him the question if he’s going to score a goal this season and he responded with a great answer,’’ Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said.
‘‘We spoke about shooting, especially our No 10s, from outside the box, and I think we’ve done that plenty of times this season. It’s great for him and I’m sure he will grow from it as well.
‘‘But the thing is I’m not asking him something he can’t do. It’s something that he can do and all I can ask him is can he do it more often?’’
Piscopo has been an excellent addition to the Phoenix after the club paid a six-figure transfer fee to sign him from Italian club AC Renate on a three-year deal last season.
The 22-year-old missed the first four games of the current campaign due to injury but has been a regular threat in tandem with the team’s other attacking midfielder, captain Ulises Davila, since his return.
‘‘The way that we play and the role that Reno and Uli play is very important to us, they’re our creative players that create opportunities and score goals for us,’’ Talay said.
‘‘He was injured at the start of the season but having him now and playing 90 minutes is very important for us.’’
Piscopo could have scored a second goal when he raced away from the scrambling defence following a Glory corner-kick to put himself one-on-one with Velaphi, only to shoot directly at the exPhoenix keeper.
But while Talay felt Piscopo would have been disappointed not to have added to his tally on Sunday, he could not have any complaints about the former Inter Milan youth product’s spectacular opening goal.
‘‘He’s still a young player, he’s still got a lot of things to improve on but I think he’ll grow the more games he plays.’’