It was a decision that could have changed the FFA Cup final and Sydney FC skipper Alex Brosque doubts whether referees had the nerve to award the Sky Blues a crucial late free-kick.
City’s 1-0 Cup triumph ended in controversy at AAMI Park on Wednesday night when Brosque, one on one with Melbourne City defender Osama Malik, went to ground just outside the penalty box in the 92nd minute.
Much to the anger of Sydney players, referee Peter Green waved away shouts for a free-kick and a chance to restore parity following Tim Cahill’s earlier header.
After watching replays, Brosque was certain he’d been fouled and wondered how a team of officials, including two additional assistant referees, could have let such a big match moment go.
“It’s surprising really. They introduced another referee to be able to see things like that and neither of them saw it,” Brosque said.
“I’m not complaining about it too much. It was sort of desperation at the end there and we would have liked to have done a bit better throughout the game to not be worrying on a 92nd-minute decision.
“But six referees, no one really had the guts to make a call and, in the end, we lost to a good Tim Cahill goal – he did what he always seems to do.”
Brosque disagreed with Green’s explanation he didn’t award a foul because both he and Malik had been holding onto each other, arguing that might have been the case initially but, once through on goal, the City defender “was all over me”.
“He said he didn’t know who to give the decision to,” Brosque said.
“That’s what I pointed out – surely going through one on one with the keeper, there’s no reason for me to continue holding.
“If we were both holding each other, once the attacking player is through on goal, if there’s still contact, then he goes down – it’s a foul.”
Brosque’s opinion was backed by former Central Coast coach and Fox Sports pundit Phil Moss, who couldn’t fathom “how Peter Green missed it”.
“For me, it’s 100 per cent a foul, 100 per cent red card and a chance for Sydney to get back in the game and send it into extra-time,” Moss said.
“If you look at Osama Malik, he’s got a handful of Brosque.
“Brosque is playing it smart as all good strikers do. They get across the line of a defender to ensure they either have to let them go or foul them.”
Sydney were dejected to leave Melbourne without the trophy they’d craved for six years, but intended to reignite their A-League title push on Sunday against Newcastle.
“Today, the boys are in better spirits,” he said.
“We know we go up to Newcastle, we get a good win there, continue our form in the league and it gets forgotten about pretty quickly.”
punter
Guest
Pressure, stress, some run from it, winners run towards it.
Waz
Guest
Well I'm glad I at least entertain you Nemesis.
Waz
Guest
They have. But I bet they're hoping for a few draws from teams directly below them this week - pressures a funny thing in sport and you never want to invite it in as Arnie did.
Bob
Guest
You made up teh rules not me. try following them maybe? or maybe stop trying to impose rules on others?? and the last time i was challenged on my age it was at primary school when the bully claimed superiority as he was 1/2 a year older :)
Nemesis
Guest
Nope. You are wrong. Incapable of understanding a simple thread of conversation, which is disappointing if you are an adult. What I've said is it's comical & bizarre for people, who do not have access to all the information required and/or do not have appropriate experience or qualifications to think they would do a better job than those who do have access to all the available information and do have appropriate experience or qualifications. The ref did not give any foul. I agree with this expert's opinion. I am not saying "I am better than the ref at judging a foul when I'm sitting on my couch, whilst he is 20m away". But, it's possible that logic & common sense are too much for you to grasp?
Bob
Guest
But they are YOUR rules LoL, thats what you say. you operate with one set of rules for yourself and expect others to post to a different set of rules. You've even used them on ME in teh past and told me I'm not qualified to critique the FFA unless I've worked there hah hah hah hah
Bob
Guest
More whinging than a Pom !!!!!!
punter
Guest
I wouldn't say they were struggling. I know this talk of invincibles is silly, just like the talk of the grand slam to the winner of Australian tennis open, but they have placed themselves in the right position.
Nemesis
Guest
What a childish retort. But not unexpected given what I've observed from your input on this forum. I've not said the expert was wrong, so you've made a clown of yourself as usual.
Waz
Guest
are you a professional footballer or referee? By your own rules you should not be commenting otherwise!
Waz
Guest
That's what he said after the game, so now he's changed - sore loser? And again, the tv footage is conclusive from behind the goal - Brosque commits the foul. It appears the treble-chasing, invincible, biggest club in Australia is struggling with the loss. Not my problem.
Nemesis
Guest
Brosque may have a point. If the offside rule didn't exist in football and if Malik had fouled him, Brosque definitely would've deserved a free-kick.
Fadida
Guest
Offside and Sydney are talking as if it was a penalty in the last minute, not a free kick that would have hit the wall half way up anyway
KJ
Roar Rookie
Agree. After seeing the replay he absolutely looked offside.
punter
Guest
Hey Waz, this is not Brosque saying 'not sure of a foul'? I have moved on. You have to take the good & the bad decisions.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Who cares! Move on. He was offside anyway.