Phoenix rue controversial refereeing calls
The Wellington Phoenix have been left to rue the shelving of the muchmaligned Video Assistant Referee as they restarted their A-League season with an eventful 3-1 defeat to Sydney FC at Jubilee Stadium last night.
With the scores locked at 1-1 late in the contest, English striker Gary Hooper appeared to have scored but was flagged offside. On replay, Hooper looked onside, but with television technology no longer being used, the goal remain chalked off.
Moments later, Sydney broke downfield with substitute Trent Buhagiar putting the hosts ahead, before he added his second and Sydney’s third just two minutes later to seal the points for the defending champions. Both goals came from sloppy Phoenix passes, the wind perhaps having been taken from their sails by Hooper’s disallowed effort.
After a goalless first half, Reno Piscopo and Adam Le Fondre traded second-half spot kicks as two genuine A-League contenders went toe-to-toe in an energetic clash which belied the four-month break since either last played a competitive match.
Wellington went ahead after fullback Libby Cacace — currently linked with a now inevitable European move — burst into the area midway through the second half and was brought down by Ryan MacGowan.
With regular penalty taker Ulises Davila on the bench, Piscopo calmly slotted home the game’s opening goal. It was his final act in an excellent performance, replaced by Davila.
The awarding of Sydney FC’s penalty was curious. A Wellington clearance was allowed to bounce by Davila in the corner of the box and while it rebounded up and brushed his arm, it appeared to have first touched his body, which cast doubt on referee Chris Beath’s decision. However, with VAR not in use, Wellington’s protests were waved away and Le Fondre equalised.
The Phoenix also believed they’d earned a penalty after quarter of an hour. Alex Rufer fired a first-time shot into Rhyan Grant, who appeared to block the effort with a raised arm inside the penalty area. Wellington coach Ufuk Talay debated the decision with the fourth official and then Beath at halftime.
Given it was 124 days since they last took the field, the Phoenix started brightly, with Piscopo prominent. Only the end product was missing, with Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne untested in the first half. At the other end, Stefan Marinovic was twice forced into acrobatic saves.
More used to the firm pitches and warm evenings of summer, the players had to deal instead with persistent rain and a greasy surface which regularly tested their footing.
Talay elected to leave star imports Hooper and Davila on the bench, instead handing a first start of the season to teenager Ben Waine and a 100th A-League appearance to Jaushua Sotirio. Davila and Hooper were introduced together after 64 minutes and played starring roles in the controversy that followed.
The win all but seals the Premiers Plate for Sydney FC as regular season winners. The Phoenix next face Perth Glory on Wednesday night, but will no doubt hope they are given the opportunity to redress the balance against Sydney FC when finals football rolls around next month.
Sydney FC 3 (Adam Le Fondre 76 pen, Trent Buhagiar 88, 90)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Reno Piscopo 66 pen)