Two goals in two minutes have given Perth a come-from-behind 2-1 win in Brisbane with Roar coach John Aloisi left bewildered after another decision went against his men.
The Roar were in the box seat, leading 1-0 late in the second half and searching for the buffer goal, until Perth duo Andy Keogh and Diego Castro combined to steer the Glory into fourth on the A-League ladder.
Returning off the bench after a three-game absence due to a groin injury, Keogh seemed to bring Castro to life.
The pair immediately looked likely but it wasn’t until the 80th minute that they turned the game on its head.
First it was Castro setting up Keogh, then two minutes later the roles were reversed as Castro put Perth in front.
Until that point the Roar had looked comfortable, without managing to land the killer blow.
Massimo Maccarone broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, controlling a pinpoint Fahid Ben Khalfallah pass to perfection before standing up two defenders and knocking a deflected shot into the side netting.
It was the 38-year-old’s sixth goal from 12 starts, but the Roar were left to rue the fact that there should have been more.
Maccarone was denied a brace early in the second half, the linesman raising his flag as the Italian fired his shot past Liam Reddy despite replays showing the Italian to be onside.
The decision could not be referred to the VAR, given the whistle had been blown before Maccarone had put the ball in the net.
“They come out during the week saying that they have to make sure that they keep the flag down when they’re not sure,” Roar coach John Aloisi said.
“If he’s sure that’s offside, then he shouldn’t be a linesman … that changed the game.
“They have to either get better or change, because if we’re not doing our job, believe me there’s change.”
The Roar remain in ninth with just two wins from 12 games this season, Sections of the 7031-strong crowd made their feelings known to players and staff following the game.
Perth coach Kenny Lowe agreed the Roar may have been hard done by, but said his side were equally deserving of the points.
“First half we did quite well, we got into great areas but were conservative, getting into the final third then turning around and coming back,” the coach said.
“The difference is when Andy does come on we’ve got a focal point.
“Sometimes you need an old cat (Keogh) instead of a young cat.”
Glory keeper Liam Reddy left the field with a suspected broken nose after a second half collision, while Xavier Torres finished the game with a tight groin.
Waz
Guest
Just a lot better lol
Waz
Guest
Relegation is enough. Like players they need to learn and grow and not be dumped. If we had a second division we would increase the pool of refs to draw from
Waz
Guest
Correct. Let’s be clear - were he offside the VAR would have picked it up. The angle shown in the stadium showed both the point at which the ball was kicked and Carstro’s position and he was onside.
KJ
Roar Rookie
I hate this argument/discussion (that happens everytime). Yes the rule book says deliberate. However that obviously has a different intent or interpretation than what we would usually say as deliberate. Tell me, how many footballers go out there and think, I'm going to stop this ball or control this ball with my hand vs how many get called for handball?
KJ
Roar Rookie
Watching the video, Castro is clearly kept onside by the central defender. No controversy at all!
Lionheart
Guest
and relegate them ie, sack them
Waz
Guest
Castro, on side. Fluke clearance as well.
Lionheart
Guest
Castro? I hear you Waz about the stadium replay. but ....
Cool N Cold
Guest
JB, There is a big twist in this offside issue. When I watched Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory an hour ago. There was a similar situation. It happened at the 63 minute. The City's goalie kicked to the 2 City's forwards in the Victory's half and one of the commentators (may be Harper) said, "...no offside because it is a goal kick". Oh.. then, I think people may have misconception on "goal kick". According to page 3 (or slide 3) of the FIFA Law 11 - offside (https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/law_11_offside_en_47383.pdf), it is clear that "No offence if ball direct from a goal kick, a throw-in, a corner kick". The problem here is the definition of "goal kick". A "goal kick" is a restarting of a "dead ball" in jargon term. So are a "throw-in" and "corner kick". When a ball has got off the base line after last touched a opponent player, it is a goal kick to re-start the game/match. In soccer, the match/game stops while the clock does, unlike rugby or basket ball. For a goal kick, the ball has to be kicked off from the little box. It may be controversial if the goalie got the ball (not in a dead ball situation) and kick it off in the big box to his forwards in the offside position. It is just confusing to some people but not controversial. It is offside. However, on Thursday night, the pink shirt goalie of the Glory kick the ball out side the big box to his forward Castrol (who is at an offside position). Please check the video with the title "Late comeback stuns Roar". At 1:09, the pink goalie was 5 meters outside the big box. People cannot distinguish between "goal kick" and "kick by goal keeper". In conclusion, many people including some players, commentators and referees, do not know clearly the offside rule, goal kick and dead ball. Merry X'mas
Waz
Guest
No. Keogh was offside but not interfering with play so not an offence. By the time he scored he’d been played on again
Lionheart
Guest
so the ABC got it right, a mile off-side, but maybe I had the wrong man. That's two games six points for Glory, from offside goals. Refereeing is bad.
Waz
Guest
jb. Keogh was definitely off side but the video shown in the stadium during the VAR review showed Castro on side at the point the ball was cleared. So all good sadly for Roar. Have a great Christmas jb.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - suggest you look at the link Cool suggested and bring your stop button into play. If you still think Castro and Keogh were not offside when the goalkeeper sent his booted clearance down field than so be it. After all it is Christmas and a few "gifts" don't go astray.. Greetings to you and yours Cheers jb.d
j,binnie
Guest
Insideman - "What Roar need" is an extremely complex question to answer and cannot be "solved" by pointing at one man's pluses or minuses. Roar's problems are much deeper than that. For instance comparing Maccarone with McLaren is showing a deep seated naivety as to what a player has in his "arsenal" to contribute to a team's overall effectiveness. In days gone by Maccarone would have been best described as a "target man", an experienced "strong man" haunting an opponents penalty area with a definite physical challenge to the usual double centre -backs. On the other hand McLaren,slight of build but extremely quick, would be better described as a "feed off" striker, one who works best in finding the spaces created by others. That simple investigation brings us back to" recruitment" and how it is applied. McLaren came to Roar from Perth ,where, mostly used as a substitute,he scored goals regularly "playing off" an excellent "target man" in Keogh. So how was he used at Roar?. Let's forget replacing that excellent "target man" in Berisha. Someone decided McLaren didn't need that luxury and in doing so immediately curbed that side of his game by asking him to fill both roles, the true "target man" role being outside his physical capability. And so the lad moved on to greener pastures and once again "recruitment " came to the fore with his replacement, a "new McLaren or another Berisha???, the "target man" getting the nod.. That brings us up to today and how the present squad of players are being used to gain the best form they have to offer. All during the last 2 years Matt Mackay has retained his attacking midfield role despite the fact that in that time it is doubtful if he has scored 2 or 3 goals. He is still as busy as ever but his ability to find men with crucial passes has also diminished. The latest recruit Khalfalla has obviously been a very clever player in his day but age is also affecting his pace and maybe it is time to get him to change his style of game away from the usual wing play he has provided ,and get him into a position where his skill and knowledge could be used to better effect. Silva does a similar game for Perth popping up here there and everywhere to try and create mayhem. The French import is also good looking player but again we find him starting in almost new positions every week so that as an incumbent to the team he must be wondering just what his role is (shades of Broich in the same time zone). Roar are not a bad team but ever so gradually they have been converted into a formation of play that even has the most knowledgeable of fans scratching their heads and wondering. Cheers jb.
Waz
Guest
Agree with Keogh being a good move, I would have started Akbari over FBK and brought the experience on later in the game. By the time Keogh has an impact though Roar could have been 3 or 4 nil up and would have been 2-0 up if not for an obvious error by the assistant ref.
Waz
Guest
jb. Castro was considered on side when the ball was kicked. Keogh was offside but not deemed interfering with play so as he returned to an inside position before scoring he was good.
Waz
Guest
I watched the video and it’s not clear Castro is offside from that. Apart from you I’ve heard no suggestion he was offside and watching the stadium replay it showed he was on side. Much as I hate the VAR I’m pretty sure it would have picked up off side.
Insideman
Roar Rookie
Waz,Just a couple of clarifying points: I hope you are not holding up Maccarone as a striker role model for Australian kids. The deft touches are nice but apart from that ???????????? That part of his game certainly sets an example but other parts do not including his lack of mobilty. As regards the use of offside there is a big difference between tactical offside and the ability to get back onside. My comments refer to the latter. Maccarone walks back because he has not got the physical capability to do otherwise. Sometimes he cannot get into scoring positions in the box because he cannot keep up with play (something noted by our esteemed Fox commentators recently). If you are not in an onside position you cannot defend, something which is expected of the modern day striker although I acknowledge that there would be exceptions to this rule if the team balance is right. Note your comments about McLaren leaving but the reports I have read indicate that the Roar offer was and I quote “disgusting” and “highly disrespectful”. $200000 on offer for the one of the A league's highest goalscorers? He was made an offer he had to refuse, so in my book he was let go. In addition he was someone who could be relied upon in the future as a building block to long term success. History will now define the wisdom of that decision for both player and club. Interesting comment about penalty kicks. The referee, as hard as it may be, must decide if the handball is deliberate. It is not automatic. If they cannot do the job then they should be trained or replaced by people who will. Although I agree with your comments regarding getting the right players to service Maccarone's game perhaps the better plan would be to get a striker which would suit the capabilities of the rest of the team.
Cool N Cold
Guest
"He should come on as a sub for the last 20 mins." Why Maccarone should come on as a sub? The reason is that he is aged? Cahill, also 38, was not playing regularly but he played more than 120 minutes (including additional and extra time) in the match Australia vs Syria months ago. Maccarone plays well these days. He moves back to defend also.
Cool N Cold
Guest
JB, Offside or not offside has always been an issue. However, clearly, both Keogh and Castro were both offside. When Castro got the ball he should be flagged for offside. This shows how poor A-league's referees are. Watch the video in https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/match-centre/HAL2017-181201 Castro was clearly offside by at least 10 meters when the ball left the goalie's foot. Maybe, there is a point for discussion. Maybe, the referee was confused by the rule saying that "no offside at the defending half". However, both Keogh and Castro were at the attacking half. Maybe, the referee was thinking that the goalie was at the defending half. The referees make mistakes every week.