Coaches downplay the impact of controversial VAR contribtion

Adelaide coach Marco Kurz and Western Sydney opposite Josep Gombau have played down the contribution the VAR played in the Reds’ 2-0 win at Coopers Stadium.

The VAR reviewed a number of incidents in the clash including the expulsions of Wanderers skipper Robbie Cornthwaite and United full-back Ben Garuccio.

Cornthwaite’s hand blocked the shot of Baba Diawara and play continued for a further two minutes before it was eventually halted.

Referee Chris Beath reviewed the vision and awarded United a penalty, which Baba subsequently missed, and issued the visiting captain his second yellow card in five minutes.

Beath showed Garuccio a yellow card for a high, lunging tackle on Roly Bonevacia in the 75th minute before VAR again intervened.

After reviewing the footage for a second occasion, Garuccio was shown a straight red card.

Kurz didn’t debate the decisions or the process but said the VAR needed to be consistent.

“That’s the rules and I respect the rules,” he said.

“I think maybe it’s very important that every week in each stadium are the same rules.

“I hope also in the next week they make the same decisions.”

The Wanderers could have claims for getting the raw end of the VAR deal with two further reviews in the first half. Oriol Riera felt he had a penalty shout after tangling with Diawara in the area at a corner while Adelaide’s opening goal was also reviewed for a possible offside.

“I never complain about the referees,” Gombau said.

“I think the decisions don’t help us, but this is part of the game.

“Another day the decisions will help us.”

With six players sent off this round – and five by VAR – Gombau also called for greater consistency.

“With the VAR, we need to think this round there was a lot of players sent out,” he said.

“The thing that is important is to have very clear, that all the referees have the same way to act in terms of the VAR.”

Adelaide’s victory was made even sweeter with 20 year-old Ryan Strain starring in his debut.

Kurz sprung the surprise before kick-off, thrusting the fullback straight into the starting line-up replacing the suspended Michael Marrone.

“I see the boy every day at training,” Kurz said.

“I was sure that he was ready to start.

“I was 100 per cent sure before the game that he would play very good today.”