Central Coast’s Argentine import Patricio Perez marked a dramatic A-League debut with a controversial penalty to deny Sydney FC their first win of the season.
Perez, a former Argentina under 20s teammate of Lionel Messi, made his long-awaited debut off the bench at the Sydney Football Stadium and earned the Mariners a 1-1 draw with a 73rd minute penalty on Saturday night after midfielder Rhyan Grant had put the home side ahead.
But the equaliser came in highly controversial circumstances, with the diminutive midfielder appearing to earn the penalty – and have Sydney goalkeeper Liam Reddy sent off in the process – with what looked a clear dive in the box.
The 25-year-old looked certain to score after collecting a ball from Matt Simon before going down after attempting to round Reddy near the goal line.
Referee Matthew Breeze didn’t hesitate in awarding the penalty and giving Reddy his marching orders, despite replays showing little – if any – contact, much to the fury of the Sydney players.
Perez made no mistake with the ensuing spot kick, setting up a tense finale to what had been until then a lacklustre NSW derby in front of 10,147 fans.
Tempers flared in the closing stages, while Perez could have netted the winner if not for a great save from substitute goalkeeper Ivan Necevski and a dubious offside call late on.
The result ensured Sydney remain without a win and rooted to the bottom of the ladder after four rounds.
Earlier, Grant scored his first A-League goal after capitalising on an error from 18-year-old Mariners goalkeeper Matthew Ryan, who was on debut following a shock season-ending knee injury to Jess Vanstrattan during the week.
Showing just how much the Mariners will miss the former Gold Coast and Juventus ‘keeper, Ryan fumbled a cross from Sung-Hwan Byun in the 47th minute and Grant pounced for a simple tap-in.
The scorers were rarely threatened in a lacklustre first half, with both sides content to play a possession game but finding it hard to break the opposition defence.
Sydney looked slightly more likely of the two to open the scoring and came closest when central defender Seb Ryall fired a shot into the right upright after a layoff from Nicky Carle in the 34th minute.
Usually-reserved Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka was visibly angered on the touchline when the penalty was awarded and could not hide his disappointment after the match.
“What can I say? All could see it,” Lavicka said.
“I am very disappointed, I am very upset, all the team as well.”
Lavicka said the club would appeal to have Reddy’s red card overturned under the A-League rules against simulation.
Captain Stuart Musialik said the players were angry at the call but admitted they should have acted more professionally.
Musialik, Scott Jamieson and striker Mark Bridge were all booked for dissent.
“Obviously we’re not happy at all,” he said.
“Especially at this moment in time when we’ve had a slow start to the season and desperately needed the win, so to have something like that go against us is very frustrating and hard to deal with.”
Mariners coach Graham Arnold said he believed it was a penalty, though admitted Reddy’s red card may have been “a bit harsh”.
“It was a penalty, he took his left foot,” Arnold said.
“… We’ve had plenty of penalties not given, so it’s maybe evened up.”
Arnold added the fact the SFS was unusually showing replays of the controversial incidents to the crowd may have put more pressure on Breeze.
He was delighted with Perez’s impact, saying he was still at only 60 per cent fitness as he eases into action from a hamstring problem.
“Hopefully the supporters of all clubs should enjoy watching him, but maybe the Sydney supporters aren’t happy tonight, but that’s life,” Arnold said.
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