Melbourne Victory’s hopes of a late run to the A-League Men premiership remain alive after beating Wellington 3-1 in a game completely overshadowed by two farcical VAR delays.
Victory leaped into second place, a point above Western United and one behind leaders Melbourne City, who each have a game in hand, by claiming three points in teeming rain at AAMI Park.
But close to 12 minutes’ worth of VAR-related delays on decisions for two goals, including Victory having a would-be winner chalked off, only for it to be replaced with a penalty, dominated the game.
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Victory snatched the lead in the second minute when Jake Brimmer found Marco Rojas, who burst down the right and squared it for Nick D’Agostino to score.
Despite Victory dominating, Wellington had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the 20th minute when Reno Piscopo’s shot hit the arm of Victory skipper Josh Brillante.
Referee Shaun Evans initially awarded a free kick but after a VAR review showed Brillante’s arm was inside the area, quickly changed his decision and gave a penalty.
But Piscopo’s penalty was poor and Ivan Kelava made a commanding save.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
In the aftermath, Sam Sutton put a cross into the area and Leigh Broxham made a clearing header but caught Piscopo in the face with his elbow as he jumped.
After a five-minute delay, between Piscopo receiving treatment and consulting the VAR, Evans again pointed to the spot, to Victory’s dismay.
This time, Sandoval comfortably buried the equaliser.
Victory appeared to have taken the lead in the 61st minute when Oli Sail parried Brimmer’s long-range effort into the path of D’Agostino to coolly tap home.
Instead, it led to a seven-minute VAR review.
Evans assessed whether Rai Marchan had fouled Ben Old in the lead-up, which would have chalked off the goal.
But as the delay continued, the VAR footage showed Evans had earlier missed Louis Fenton’s handball in the area from Jason Davidson’s cross.
As a result, the ball was brought back to the penalty spot, with Brimmer coolly converting.
After all the earlier drama, Victory wrapped up three points in the 78th minute when Davidson lifted a lovely ball to the back post where an unmarked Rojas headed home.
Victory have an away clash with Sydney FC left while fifth-placed Wellington can still seal a finals berth by beating Western Sydney or City.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Thank! It is consistent. Player on the line, not into the penalty box. Ball on the line, considered to be out of the box.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Not quite (I might have confused you). The line of the penalty area is considered to be outside of the penalty area. For the keeper not to commit handball some part of the ball must be over the line and inside the penalty area. If all the ball is on the line it’s considered outside - I’ve rarely seen all but the most blatant infringements penalised though, keepers often get away with a few Centimetres here.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Thank! So, if the ball is on the line of the box, there is no free kick. If the ball has totally out of the box, not touching the line, there is a free kick. Is that right?
Waz
Roar Rookie
In that situation, handball would be determined by the position of the ball (over the line or not). Unlike in Rugby, the position of the keepers feet are irrelevant
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
That 7 minute VAR review was extraordinary in many respects, not just the length of time taken to adjudicate, but the fact that they seemed to go back 3 or 4 plays to come to the decision, which doesn't really sit well with me. Then yesterday, WU nearly earned a penalty when Pain was clearly cllipped well outside the box, and VAR took 3 or 4 minutes to determine the bleeding obvious. What a travesty that would have been, WU played an absolutely rubbish game, outplayed by CCM across the park, and yet could have earned another cheap 1-0 win. The very last thing this comp needs is to have the likes of WU anywhere near the top two of this league.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
If the goalie runs out to catch a ball with his rear foot still on the line of the box, the goalie is regarded as still in the box. No handball! Is that true?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Not in the box.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Im happy with the loss, got no real complaints about the game and i think VAR did a good job.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
I have watched again. At 10:12, there was a handball. The only interpretation is the referee judged ball-to-hand in the box. And indeed, from the video, it was in the box. Five seconds later, there was a slide-tackle. The referee just did not feel anything. Another 10 seconds later, D'Agostino scored. Then the VAR intervened because there was a foul in Victory's building up to the goal, that slide tackle. After D'Agostino's goal, no one in yellow shirt protested. Shaun Evan's blunder could have not been further exposed. But due to the VAR's intervention, the situation became complicated. After all, this case is another case of poor referee performance. How could Shaun Evans made another double-errors again? In the match City vs CCM in February, he has made a double-errors. "FIFA-badged referee Shaun Evans could be dumped from A-League duties after a Football Australia review found he twice made wrong decisions regarding penalties in Melbourne City's controversial 3-2 win over the Central Coast Mariners."
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Would someone help? If a player stands on the line of the box, the player is regarded as in the box or not in the box?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I was suprised how there were no major bad decisions given Shaun Evans was involved, and how he still is a referee is completely beyond me. All the handballs you could see why they were given the fouls by Marchan and Broxham you could why they were given. The only thing I would say is the yellow card for the first handball was a bit harsh. The commentators believing the advice from the coaches box about how a shot cancels out a yellow card was funny. Victory they managed to recover a lot better but in reality they had almost a 4 and a half day gap this time as opposed to just over 2 and half days gap for the Roar match . Wellington are struggling more now their squad is reduced further and now they have the extra travel. Talay he seems now to be reluctant to even pull a rabbit out of the hat anymore his subs were late when the match was over. I think he really needed to ring the changes after the second goal. When Perth Glory won their only title it was because they had Davidson and Chianese covering massive amounts of ground, while Davidson has been good this year he wasn't at Perth levels till this match, and he has done it off a fairly crowded schedule. Certainly he should have been put back in the Socceroos when he was at Perth Glory, he is almost twice the size of Behich for starters while being as mobile and fitter.
jbinnie
Guest
The third goal was the best move of the whole game with Victory moving the ball with one touch passing from goal to goal, always "forward", and the tape could be used by Popovic to prove to his players that they can play this type of football. Maybe the Russian coach of yesteryear wasn't wrong when he claimed this could be done in FOUR passing moves. Waz's VAR observation simply proves once again that the "cure" to solve a football incident in the 1966 World Cup Final has been grossly over engineered by those "brains" that govern our rule book, and damn the enjoyment of the fans. Cheers jb
Waz
Roar Rookie
How many times does it have to be said: VAR does more damage than it solves. The A League will die under its continued use #VAROut