Sydney FC coach Steve Corica was left fuming after a gripping 1-0 loss to Macarthur in Sunday’s A-League derby, claiming his side were unfairly reduced to ten men.
The Sky Blues were punished at the end of the first half when Paulo Retre was red-carded for a studs-up challenge on Jake McGing.
It was the tipping point for Corica after Bulls Antony Golec and Mark Milligan escaped bookings for a deliberate handball and dangerous contact respectively in a physical first half.
When asked if Retre’s red card was fair, Corica took aim at referee Alex King.
“No, but nothing’s fair is it?” he said.
“We all make mistakes and I think the referee tonight probably made quite a few mistakes and in the end, the red card, I don’t think so.
“His foot was high, yes, but it wasn’t a nasty challenge at all.”
For Corica, Retre’s red card was hard to swallow given Golec wasn’t booked for his handball but was later yellow carded for a challenge on Alex Baumjohann.
“If he got a yellow for that he would have been sent off tonight,” Corica said.
“Like I said to the fourth official, yes, I think that’s a yellow card. I’m not sure what game we’re playing but it’s football, not basketball.”
A frustrated Corica went into the referee’s book for a sideline blow up at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
But while the Sky Blues sank to their first back-to-back loss for the season, the Bulls made a statement in their bounce back from a 4-1 thumping by Western United last week.
Bulls striker Matt Derbyshire continued his prolific season with his seventh goal from ten games when he tapped in a shot from Spaniard Markel Susaeta, who danced through confused defence to set up the lone goal in the 36 minute.
Despite a slew of shots from Kosta Barbarouses and Retre, the Sky Blues couldn’t equalise.
League newcomers Macarthur now sit second on the A-League ladder after their fifth win of the season while powerhouse Sydney FC are in the bottom half.
“Now these players believe,” said Bulls coach Ante Milicic.
“For us to come here and win, it showed us as a new club in the first season, to be competitive with the champions we take a lot from that because we have so much respect for not only the football side of Sydney FC, but their stability as a club.”
The Sky Blues will get a chance to bounce back against Brisbane on Saturday, while the Bulls will travel to Gosford to face ladder leaders Central Coast on Monday week.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The one where Marrone then tackled the ball boy and then Simon stepped in. So Sydney FC being mid table is the highlight of your life.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Little Stevie “Nothing’s fair, is it”? What he means is “Sydney losing isn’t fair”. May I suggest he’d better get used to losing games & perhaps purchase a new “Book of Excuses” rather than recycle the ones he has used in the past. Becoming a bit tiresome blaming the match officials when in previous seasons, his team were regularly the recipients of 50/50 decisions. Perhaps he should also top up his supply of tissues to absorb his tears.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So lets get this straight Corica is Guardiola and Sydney FC is Barcelona, Bayern Munich , Man City. See they are considered champions coaches because they have won them Corica has 2 in 2 years, so let me guess Sydney didnt win the championships it was faked like the moon landing and now the truth is out.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Big club mentality
Simon
Guest
I’m a SFC member and I have to agree. There were a couple of dodgy calls that didn’t go SFC’s way however the Retre challenge was stupid and Sydney didn’t convert. They’ve lost the goal scoring edge with the release of LeFondre . Bitching about the officials is never a good look when you lose.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Evening All My opinion is as follows. Corics is the Guardiola of Australia. Buy as many players as you can, buy the premiership if necessary. I have been involved with football since 1977 in a number of capacities and I have seen numerous characters that Corica.emulates. They consider themselves championship coaches until the truth comes out. The players make the coach look good. But nothing lasts for ever. In Corica’s case his mouth makes him look crass, unintelligent and a dummy spitting sore loser. Im sorry to be so honest but over rated, gobby and disrespectful to his opposition. He had better enjoy it now because his days are numbered. You’ve been found out Stevie….suck it up!!!
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good afternoon Andy I vaguely recall a Sydney FC v Adelaide game (think it was an FFA Cup match) where the Sydney ball boy deliberately held onto the ball when it was an Adelaide throw in & Sydney were hanging onto a 1 goal lead. Was he following instructions from the sideline? Imagine if the roles were reversed & it was an Adelaide ball boy. All hell would break loose & Little Stevie would probably demand the game be replayed! Arnold was the same. Arrogance + Bad Sportsmanship = Karma = Losing games = Enjoyment to many people!
Marcel
Guest
Corica's continued support for Barbarouses is difficult to comprehend. Maybe there is pressure to play him given his high wages. Barb is simply busted as a professional footballer..and his one good showing every 10 games doesn't justify keeping a developing player out of the lineup.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
one of the most arrogant managers in the league, i am absolutely loving seeing sydney suffering this season after there many years of getting calls go there way.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
No way it was a red card the foot was withdrawn before the tackle, and the contact was body to body though the studs may have glanced the players leg on the way down. The mystery of no yellow card for Golec is extremely hard to explain . This game certainly Sydney had something to complain about as opposed to the automatic we waz rubbed after every game. While the three penalty decisions against CCM were worse than this, CCM got a mountain load of sympathy and comments, Sydney will be lucky to get one comment in their favour on the refereeing from a neutral no matter how bad the decisions were.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
So let’s get this straight. When Sydney FC’s opponents have a player red carded, that must be OK however when it happens to them, it’s blatantly wrong. Like Arnold before him, Corica believes that his team should win every game. I support Brisbane Roar & also barrack for whoever is playing SydneyFC. They are “the Liverpool of the A League” with a manager who can’t accept losing & supporters who are only gracious when winning. Chin up Little Stevie. Things will get better but hopefully not for a long long time. Enjoy your slide down the ladder. I am.
Mahler
Guest
I love to see Corica's sullen face whenever Sydney are beaten. Can he not take a beating on the chin without the usual 'we wuz robbed' or 'it was the ref's fault' etc bitching? If his player had been on the end of the high boot he'd have had a very different opinion. Sydney are beatable this season. Simple as that.