The Wanderers’ fantastic Wednesday night AFC win over Chinese super club Guangzhou Evergrande was marred for by some terribly disappointing individual displays.
The 17,000-strong crowd at Pirtek Stadium was delighted when local hero Antony Golec nabbed one for the men in red and black on the 60 minute mark.
It was not long, however, until the home crowd were subjected to a farce, comprising diving, childish belligerence and a refereeing performance to forget.
First, let’s discuss the red cards.
Zeng Linpeng was dismissed in the 88th minute for elbowing Wanderers’ midfielder Iacopo La Rocca. Fair enough, I’d say. You can’t react in that manner on Asian football’s biggest stage, regardless of whether or not you piggy-backed a six-foot-three Italian against your will.
La Rocca’s reaction, while certainly laughable, was warranted. It’s hard to argue a case for simulation when you’ve just been whacked in the face.
Two minutes later, I’ll put forward one of the worst refereeing decision I’ve seen in a long time. Gao Lin of Evergrande was handed the tomato sauce for ‘kicking’ Wanderers debutant Vitor Saba in the face.
Let’s ignore the fact that the ball was under Saba’s face at the time, and the whole event happened at such a speed that you can’t describe it as anything other than a reflex.
Certainly, an awful reflex. But I don’t believe it deserved a red card by any stretch of the imagination. There was zero malice in it, and the kick wouldn’t have popped a pimple to boot.
If things weren’t poor enough at this stage, Marcello Lippi’s tirade (which has already been well covered on The Roar) really soured the end of what should have been a celebration of a momentous victory.
I’m all for drama in sport, but Wednesday night’s match made me laugh, and not jovially. I’d say the most respectable thing about the whole game was the Red and Black Bloc’s stirring support of their team.
It’s great to see that kind of passion in the Australian game, and I really tip my cap to the Wanderers fans and the FFA for making it happen.
However, my memory of the match will be forever tarnished by poor refereeing, borderline simulation (at the very least, overreacting), and a raging bull of a coach storming down the tunnel at full time.
What I wouldn’t give to have heard Lippi’s speech in the dressing room.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan says his side have recaptured their edge after breaking their Campbelltown Stadium hoodoo with a 3-1 clobbering of cross-town…
