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.
Betty b
Guest
it looked like a dive to me - but that aside, Perez looked pretty sharp on field. I would prefer your article headline read 'Perez controversially dives' rather than 'Argentine ...' I did like the Fury/Victory game the week before with Scottish referee giving two or more yellow cards for simulation. I don't think there were any yellows for simulation this round, but I could be wrong.
jimbo
Roar Guru
It was a handball from Simon a second earlier that let to it and no penalty or sending off, but Perez's second goal wasn't offside, so it would have finished 1-1 after all. Sydney not playing as well as they can yet and a little lucky to get a point. CCM looked very sharp in parts and when they have a full team fully fit they will be there or therabouts at the end of the season. Musialik summed it up when he said they were frustrated after a poor start to the season - that's it, so any half dodgy decision is going to ryall them a lot more than usual.
Gobouten
Guest
That at least I can agree with!
Midfielder
Guest
AF With the Fold giving you so much grief I tho you needed a little present ... this is very funny BTW a must listen... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7aGYigvHU4
Midfielder
Guest
One brilliant thing and about time TBH was the away side wearing their home shirts ... OK OK it has been the case all season but it is good to see... the league is growing up ...
Farqwar
Guest
Carle has been playing largely without strikers and a midfield that could best be described as s--t. A bit hard to make too much of a judgement on him at this stage. Holman playing in the Sydney team would likely be even uglier.
Mister Football
Guest
I only switched on during 3/4 quarter time of the bullies v dons game, just in time for the penalty - loved it!!
Midfielder
Guest
How are the Fold Coast going... Fat Tony I here has a new idea... Fold will play at a local park club for free ... will save a bit of money that way and can get control of the food ... ie selling not eating... (little joke there AF) ... Big plans I here Side Show Bob will stop giving fall over boy lessons in crying and diving ... and may start to get him into playing a bit... Wonders aloud if the player keeper were turned around... say Sh*tty went out and brought a play maker of Patricio Perez class & skill and he was taken down by the Mariners keeper... headlines thugs at central coast pay the price of being over physical... On another topic ....once upon a time a time a long time ago there was a player everyone said should go to the WC... he is all class and style ... The boy returned and does anyone ask anymore why Holeman not Nicky went to the WC... glad to see all those Holman haters and Nicky lovers (listening Jes...Les ... Fozzzie) come out and say how wrong they were... The boy is sure setting the A-League light ... Hope MV beat the Fold today...
Realfootball
Guest
Personally, I thought the game only became worth watching after the send off.
Realfootball
Guest
The penalty should not disguise the fact that Sydney are awful right now - not just playing poorly, but awful to watch - and the shine is coming off Vitislav Lavicka very fast indeed. The blunt reality is that Sydney's squad simply isn't very good, and for this Lavicka's recruiting is largely to blame. The 11 that took the park last night, player for player, is a relentlessly ordinary bunch of footballers. Grant was their best player, but would not make the current Roar, Adelaide, Perth or Victory teams. Who would, for that matter? I suggest that only Mark Bridge, of that starting 11 would be in a matchday squad for any of those clubs. And, frankly, I think Bridge would be warming the bench. He really doesn't score nearly enough goals for the role he occupies. Sydney FC were in trouble this season before a ball was kicked. Lavicka's lack of activity in the player market was bewildering. Gan, Cole, McFlynn are simply not up to A League standard. No cover for Brosque and Bridge. Danning is a shadow of the player he was. BYun is hopelessly out of form. Jamieson is out of position and depressingly substandard as a left winger. Musaik looks increasingly frustrated. Carle is finding the attention he receives in the A League too much, and this is exacerbated by the fact that there is no one with the quality to take the pressure off him if Brosque is not on the park. Despite the fact that the club desperately needs to make a statement of intent to its potential fans, they have now signed a Brazilian whose record is unquestionably one of a mediocre nonentity. What on earth are they thinking? 10,000 people to the game reflects the fact that Lavicka has not delivered football that any but the purists actually want to watch. They won a very ordinary A League last year. This year, other teams have stepped up a notch or two and Sydney have been found out. And for that, I am sorry, I hold Vitislav Lavicka responsible.
Gobouten
Guest
What a total farce. Matthew Breeze has to be the worst referee ever. Every time I see that he is reffing a Sydney match I get worried. There was absolutely no contact. Simon handballed a second earlier and I'm 90% sure that Perez was off side as well (replay on Fox Sports website doesn't show a good angle for this unfortunately). Terrible all round. Anyone who says that CCM's dissallowed goal made it even is delusional as Sydney not only had a goal awarded against them (more or less) but had to play most of the second half a man down. People keep going on about crowds in the A-league, well this is the best way to make sure that they stay down. People hate games that are decided by the referee and everyone I know left with a bitter taste in their mouth. I had a bunch of casual supporters with me and they were enjoying the game (which wasn't the best) until Breeze ruined it. In the end they left thinking that it was crap.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Central Coast go from Manglers to Central Coast Divers.. ---------- AF
Axel V
Guest
great game! 10/10! :lol: <--- Victory supporter
Farqwar
Guest
I watched the dive in slow mo and I dont think there was any contact. If there was it was Reddy's pinky that brought him down. Came from a clear handball from Simon.
Farqwar
Guest
Both sides were poor, a draw was a fitting result.
Midfielder
Guest
The offside was a goal... and Sydney were out played most of the night... as an aside the Sydney goal was luck with the young keeper dropping a ball at the feet of Sydney player... Media bias in being pro Sydney ....we lucky not to go down 2 or 3 nil...
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
After seeing it several times, I still believe he was clipped. So a fair penalty IMO. In saying that, he did make the most of it (not that there is anything wrong with it as I believe he was fouled). The only harsh part of the call was the sending off. Central Coast are very unlucky not to go home with all 3pts, after Perez header was ruled to be off-side, when it clearly was onside.