The ladder-leading Central Coast Mariners have been beaten on the road by Adelaide United, with three Tomi Juric penalties, referee Adam Fielding and VAR proving to be the most influential factors in the Reds’ home victory.
On a lovely evening for football, the Adelaide faithful were desperate for three points after a disappointing recent run. But it was the Mariners who struck first. A Jordan Elsey error allowed Daniel De Silva to slip in behind and find the net after 15 minutes.
It was an appalling mistake from the defender, once again brought on by a keen and consistent Mariners press and an application of pressure that has served them so well this season.
After a period of comfortable control for the visitors, fortune saw Adelaide level after 34 minutes, when Stefan Mauk and Ruon Tongyik’s big toes appeared to come into contact in the box.
It was the most minuscule of touches. Mauk went to ground and it was far more a case of his simulated dive than any contact made by Tongyik that convinced Fielding to award the spot kick.
Sadly, a VAR check confirmed his decision, something that almost every football fan would find difficult to comprehend. It was frankly absurd and Juric calmly slotted his first of three goals on the night.
Fitting with the resilience shown by the Mariners over the last six weeks, they were back in front after 63 minutes when Alou Kuol embarrassed Elsey again and slotted home after a quick thinking Matt Simon had created the space for him.
The wunderkind cannot stop scoring and Alen Stajcic’s use of him from the bench is proving to be one of the most dangerous propositions in the A-League.
However, there were some twists and turns to come. After 67 minutes, Josh Nisbet and Stefan Mauk appeared to be locked together arm in arm as the Adelaide captain entered the box. Once again Mauk came down and the referee pointed to the spot.
It was a more than dubious penalty and Juric accepted the offer with another neatly taken spot kick to level things up at 2-2.
(Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Around ten minutes later, after a chaotic scramble at the Mariners’ defensive end, the visitors broke free down the left.
Kuol was fouled on the edge of the box and the subsequent free kick seemed likely to provide Central Coast with its best chance to re-take the lead.
Then, the evil silence of a pending VAR decision took over, as Fielding was made aware of a potential handball by Kye Rowles 30 seconds prior.
In his frantic defensive efforts, the ball appeared to deflect from Rowles’ boot or lower leg, rise up and simultaneously strike him on the forearm and head.
For those reasons it was not a penalty, yet VAR felt differently and Juric was gifted a third with the 85th minute penalty.
All credit to Alen Stajcic as he visually attempted to calm his frustrated bench, on a night when the Mariners were well and truly deserted by the football gods.
They were clearly the better team, but the opportunity to further extend their lead at the top of the ladder was denied by some poor officiating and a healthy dose of luck for the home side.
No doubt there will be repercussions, and the VAR thinking behind two key moments will be front and centre. The points were immensely valuable for the Reds – undeserved, yet valuable – and moved them temporarily into the top six prior to the remaining matches this week.
All in all, it was a sad night for the league. After such a bright and positive start, the last thing the A-League needed was VAR stepping into the limelight and producing yet another comedy act for all to see.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
And.....FIFA needs to introduce a "pink card with a yellow stripe" down the middle for these cheats. VAR should be cracking down on simulators as well, why are they so scared to overturn decisions?
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
The simulation / diving in both the EPL and A League has gone to another level this season. These players just can't lose with any kind of sporting dignity, it's pathetic what they'll do to get an advantage.
Dennis
Guest
"Professional Referee" don't make me laugh over seen by another "professional" ha ha Kurt Ams. And by the way the FFA have not moved on and neither should they. Don't expect to see these officials again for a few weeks.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
What i meant was because other sports might cheat it doesnt make it right thats all
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Having a relative in Adelaide isn't what i was thinking of Stuart. Come and have a beer with the Red Army in the Brompton pre match and get their point of view. See if you think all of these guys feel the same as you?
apaway
Roar Guru
AndyAdelaide, That is the most delusional analysis of the game I’ve read. But congrats on the victory!
Will
Guest
To me the problem isn the VAR itself its actually the interpretation in when to use it. For example the 3rd goal with the rowles handball, once the ball left the box it was shifted out wide to Kuol in a 2v1 situation situation and if he's touch was better and put a shot on goal and maybe scored what happens then? Does it get disallowed after Adelaide get the pen? But CCM got a direct free kick where they could score from. To me it was so late that the game moved forward and thats the thing with our game the game is always moving forward till the whistle is blown for a foul, free kick of whatever but they had to go back to see a penalty incident from the other side of the pitch which was ridiculous, if the referee or the video referee wasnt sure they should have blown the whistle to stop play but the ball has to go dead for this? For me its opened a can of worms and it all starts with the IFAB who set the rules and use of VAR, they are responsible for this mess to begin with. And the reality is without VAR or a competent referee at least 2 of them were no penalties and even the 3rd one you could argue as well given Broxham did something very similar in yesterday's match against the Jets but it wasnt given and I wonder why we all confused? Maybe we got a referee problem too?
Dennis
Guest
Of course what the referee should have done is give Mauk a yellow for simulation on the first dive and a red card for the second penalty dive, and the situation is resolved ! But of course that requires commonsense so no chance of the right thing getting done.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I have.
r0bsta
Roar Rookie
you'd probably have a great view of it from pitch level elevation.
chris
Guest
no its not ok to cheat. But you implied that "the general Aus sporting public" wont engage with the sokkah because of the cheating. So, they embrace other aussie sports because there's no cheating right? That's what you are implying?
dennis emery
Guest
Not sure who was the VAR (I can only guess another KGJ effort) but Fielding should be stood down for a month and he can be thankful if this was the UK, he would be stood down for the season. Disgraceful performance from both and the ease which Mauk milked them should have seen a yellow for simulation. I dont often feel sorry for CCM (being a Parra boy if you get my meaning) but Stajic has every right to be furious with the FFA) I wish that Ali was still refereeing NSW games. The best referee in Australia by far. Again sorry CCM but you have been dudded.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
so its ok to cheat then?
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Well based on the sympathy the Mariners will be getting from all and sundry from now on, you should walk away with the plate and I wouldn't be disappointed to see a CCM vs Roar Grand-Final
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I agree, and I thought R Tongyik was best afield. Apart from all the petty bickering on here, which is amusing, we did see some nice touches by several players on Friday night.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
You see our point Stuart? To you there isn't any bias! It is all nonsense, yet to others out side of the Eastern States, ask them if they 'feel' there is a bias. I've been around football all of my life, at various levels, and if you think that SA and WA, even Tas, are treated equally to NSW, Vic and Qld, then you have never been involved outside of the Eastern States.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
It is disappointing Stuart, that you can't see it, not only against AUFC but any side out side of the East Coast. 'There are none so blind as those who will not see.'
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Not the 'entire' domestic football world is infuriated, just those from the East. We'll take the W and I am pretty sure Perth have their hand up wanting that Ref at their next home game, whenever that will be. All teams have, at times, been on the end of poor decisions, way before VAR was used and constant replays in slo-mo to high light an error made by a 'human'. When we all start cataloging the list of errors individual players make, on a by game basis, then we can all become high and mighty and so indignant about an official's performance. If you want to end these sorts of discussions, do away with the VAR, any form of replays of incidents, including goal-line decisions, and just let 3 match officials do their job. Once we see an incident in real time once, then make a decision and stick with it. How long will it be before we all start screaming for change, again?
Bondy
It was difficult to watch this as a Mariners fan Adelaide scored three goals none of them from open play , I just wonder if those three points that Adelaide stole will come back to haunt them . I'm very confident for the rest of the season from what I've seen of the league this season, Brisbane appear to be our only rivals for the title.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
You might want to check that replay again. Andy Harper's opinion (which by the way did not suggest it should have been a goal) is not worth a pinch of .... when Adelaide is involved!