Fury as Reds are robbed
ADELAIDE United robbed in yesterday’s League clash in Newcastle.
A controversial decision from referee Stephen Lucas when he pointed to the spot to award a penalty when Ryan Strain was cruelly judged to have handled the ball which wasn’t proven by the video assistant referee was an error of judgment by all officials.
Dimitri Petratos struck the penalty home in the 88th minute before Reds assistant coach Filip Tapalovic was sent off for arguing with the fourth official over the spot kick.
The ball appeared to strike Strain on the chest when Ersum Gulum blocked a Petratos shot.
The ricochet cannoned into the young defender – it looked like his chest on video replay – and not the handball the referee claimed.
It was a very cruel ending to a great Reds match as the Jets stole a 2-1 win after Adelaide battered the second-placed Jets for most of the match.
But the game was headed for a stalemate when George Blackwood finished a classic training ground move with a 6m finish to level the tie in the 66th minute at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Three minutes later a Marrone volley from 8m had Glen Moss at full stretch as United was A- was searching for a winner.
But before Blackwood’s goal Adelaide paid dearly when it lost the ball inside its attacking half in a battle between Konstandopoulos and Wayne Brown.
The Jets got the ball out wide before a pass from Joseph Champness to Dimitri Petratos on the edge of the box was intercepted by Vinni Lia in the 55th minute.
Unfortunately Lia’s touch made it to Andrew Nabbout who was clearly in an off-side position – if the Jets had relayed him the ball – but the striker couldn’t believe his luck before tucking the ball home from 8m in a cruel blow.
Before the goal Adelaide had very little trouble in keeping the Jets from penetrating the last line of defence except in the 17th minute when Ivan Vujica got behind Marrone.
His cross was super but Nabbout failed to get enough meat on the ball to cause Paul Izzo any anxiety.
Adelaide was solid, compact and always seemed to find space for widemen Ryan Kitto and Mileusnic as Isaias, Lia and Konstandopoulos kept circulating the ball as the Reds prodded for openings.
But for all the good work of Kitto and Mileusnic the final touch was lacking inside the box before Konstandopoulos finally had a shot on target but his 18m effort was easily saved.