- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka lauded the character of the A-League’s new comeback kings and Gold Coat counterpart Miron Bleiberg questioned the refereeing after a five-gaol A-League thriller at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
Sydney came from behind for the third straight week, overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 with a last gasp stoppage-time penalty shot by Karol Kisel.
United looked set for their first away win of the season when they went 2-0 up within a minute of the break.
Dylan Macallister pounced on a Peter Jungschlager through ball to double the lead earned by a 22nd minute header from Kristian Rees in his 100th A-league appearance.
Halftime substitute Bruno Cazarine clawed back one goal with a bullet header on the hour before Sydney playmaker Nicky Carle drilled home an equaliser from close range three minutes later to notch his third goal in as many games.
Sydney went close on several occasions and the visitors also had the odd chance before Kisel slammed his spot kick past goalkeeper Glen Moss following a trip in the area.
Before taking questions at his press conference, Bleiberg unleashed his opinion of referees, claiming some were “homey”, favouring the home team.
He was clearly uncomfortable with a couple of decisions made by referee Peter Green.
“When you look at the throw in that led to the second (Sydney goal), you can watch 200 million times, and it was maybe 50-50 but it was never a throw in for Sydney,” Bleiberg said.
“Had this penalty, whether it was touched or not touched, (happened) in the 92nd minute of the penalty area of Sydney, would he have given it?
“That’s what left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Otherwise full credit to Sydney they were 2-0 down and I believed, except for the last few minutes in the first half ,we were cruising and playing better.”
“Our trouble started was because I didn’t have depth on the bench because of some injuries.”
The result lifted Sydney to fourth and dropped Gold Coast to seventh.
“We played a lucky game, tonight because to be two goals down and turn back the game from behind, the game is always lucky,” Lavicka told reporters.
“But they have shown again strong character. This team, these players. I have to say full credit to them.
“We made some mistakes during the game but the character was unbelievable.”
Asked what the big difference was between this season and Sydney’s poor 2010-11 campaign when they rarely recovered after falling behind, Lavicka said: “I think we have better quality than last year on the park.
“We have players who have more experience and more character.
“This is nothing disrespectful regarding the players we had last season, but before this season we made the focus to pick up the right players.”
Lavicka felt prized recruit Brett Emerton played his best game yet for Sydney, as he ventured forward with purpose at every opportunity.
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.