By Wayne Heming
November 22nd 2009 @ 1:20am
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Tensions rise between Muscat and the Roar
Volatile Melbourne star Kevin Muscat refused to shake hands with Brisbane rival Matt McKay after Victory’s 1-0 A-League win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Minutes after Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou blasted his players post-match for handing Melbourne the three points after an eighth-minute header by Archie Thompson, Victory’s most experienced player let fly at McKay after a clash in the second half in which they had to be separated by referee Ben Williams.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever refused to shake hands with a player after a game,” said Muscat who has played all over the world.
“I won’t go into details why, but he and I both know what he did.
“I’m a great believer in what happens out there should stay out there.”
McKay refused to comment when told of Muscat’s stunning outburst.
Earlier both Postecoglou and Roar skipper Craig Moore ripped into the players for conceding a soft early goal.
“The last thing you want to do against a team like Melbourne is get behind on the scoreboard,” the Roar coach said.
“We went to sleep in a set piece. Credit to Archie Thompson, he’s a fantastic player.”
Melbourne parked the bus after grabbing a shock early goal and at times Thompson was the only player not crowded in the box defending.
Postecoglou was angry despite impressive comebacks by strikers from Charlie Miller and Henrique before he was red-carded a few minutes from full time for a deliberate handball infringement.
“There wasn’t any positives today,” Postecoglou said.
“Not Charlie (Miller), not Henrique, not Tommy (Oar), not anything.
“There can’t be positives when you lose at home and it’s self-inflicted.”
Moore, who didn’t argue with the referee’s foul call on him, was just as scathing in his assessment.
“We got punished for poor defending, again,” he said.
“No longer can I sit up here and make excuses.
“We are where we are (near bottom) because of the silly goals we give away every week.”
Brisbane thought they had equalised in the 79th minute when replacement Josh McCloughan headed home a perfect corner kick only to have Williams rule Moore fouled keeper Mitchel Langermak who turned in a superb performance in his first game of the season.
“Obviously it wasn’t, the referee didn’t pay it,” said a bitterly disappointed Postecoglou.
“I haven’t seen the replay but he called a foul on the keeper so it didn’t count.”
Victory coach Ernie Merrick praised Langerak who replaced a struggling Glen Moss after he conceded four goals in their loss to Central Coast at home.
“I thought Mitch was outstanding and we’ll stick with him for a few more games,” Merrick said.
Muscat said walking around Melbourne with a 4-0 loss hanging over their heads had hurt the players.
“We defended collectively tonight and came up with a clean sheet,” he said.
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cab711 said | November 23rd 2009 @ 5:33am | Report comment
What a tossbag. Guy has a tude problem. If anything he should be playing for the Roar. He would fit right in.
Rob said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
How was that “dive” by Mitch Langerak? Moore went nowhere near his face. Basically, he flapped at a cross, and simulated injury (grabbing his face like a whimp) and crashed to the ground. And what is more infuriating is that it worked! It was simulation that cost the Roar a legitimate goal.
And what’s worse, is that this time it was a goalkeeper simulating to fool a referee. I am a keeper, and I have always been taught to just cop it. Keepers will always get hit, always screw up once or twice, and just have to take it on the chin. What keepers have to do is learn how to protect themselves, how to come for crosses properly (and Mitch doesn’t have a clue on the evidence of Saturday’s game) without getting into a tangle with attackers. If he does get hit, the thing is to make sure that in the next 50-50 or the next cross he comes out with everything and takes the opposition down as he gets the ball. That’s what I’ve always been taught to do, and this guy, what does he do? He grabs his face like a pussy (sorry, that’s what it was – I could be much harsher here) and rolls around like someone just cracked his jaw in three places. Absolute bollocks, and it also shows what a crap referee Breeze is (again).
Ok, so I’m pretty angry about this. I doubt I’ve seen anything this disgraceful since German goalkeeper Schumacher took out the French striker in the Quarter Final of the 1982 World Cup with the ball nowhere in sight (knocked past him by said striker).