Teenage superstar Nestory Irankunda received his first red card in A-League football as Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory scrapped their way to a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park.
The 17-year-old exploded at referee Alex King deep into stoppage time, earning himself a second yellow, following an earlier booking for a needless altercation with Victory midfielder Ryan Teague.
He had been mercilessly booed by the home fans for his part in an earlier sending off for Victory captain Roderick Miranda, who fouled him in twice in quick succession.
Eventually, the tension got to the teenager, who snapped and saw himself marched with seconds to play.
The result keeps Carl Veart’s men on top of the ladder – until Western Sydney Wanderers play tomorrow, at least – but he will view this as both a point gained and two points lost.
For an hour, his side were played off the park by the hosts, with Victory dominating prior to the first dismissal. Bruno Fornaroli scored and it should have been a lot more.
That the game was even in doubt by the time Miranda was sent from the field was only because of Victory’s wastefulness.
For an hour, they battered United, with the trio of Daniel Arzani, Zinedine Machach and goalscorer Bruno Fornaroli far, far too good in attack with Adelaide keeper Joe Guaci the only player to emerge with plus points.
They made enough to win two games and began to play as if they were several goals to the good, with flicks and tricks in the final third rather than incisive play.
From the start, Victory were on. Arzani has long been one of the most frustrating players in Australian football, but it was clear from the off that this was going to be one of the nights where he showed up.
The winger twice made chances early on for Nishan Velupillay, only for his winger to fluff his lines, twice found Daniel da Silva from corners, with the defender sending wide on both occasions and twice fired wide from range himself.
Victory were bossing the game, with only an Irankunda shot into the side netting coming the other way, and were great value for their lead when it came.
Machach was the architect, showing all of his strength and skills to create the goal. He drove down the left, holding his man off all the way, then showed plenty of awareness to pick out Fornaroli. He did the rest, as he has done so many times.
It didn’t stop there. Arzani rinsed his fullback to get to the byline, crossed dangerously and, again, Velupillay couldn’t finish.
The misses kept coming: Velupillay picked up on a Panashe Madanha mistake to spring a counter, before threading a pass for Fabien Monge. His shot was superbly saved by Gauci.
The break did nothing to stem the tide. The trio of Machach, Arzani and Fornaroli were running the show, but the second goal seemed inevitable.
The French midfielder had an opportunity at the back post but ford wide, before Arzani gave a fourth chance for Velupillay, who shot too close to Gauci. Fornaroli blazed the rebound over the bar.
Victory were putting on a show, but not making it count and when the sucker punch came, they hit the canvas hard.
Miranda picked up his first booking for bringing down Irankunda and, from the set piece, Ibusuki was able to extend a leg and equalise. Moments later, Miranda brought down Irankunda again and saw his night end early.
The chances kept coming late on. Chris Ikonomides, Bernardo, Giuseppe Bovalina and Ben Folami all had opportunities, with both goalkeepers coming up big to keep it level.
In the end, the drama came much further from the goal as Irankunda had the last moment the game, albeit in a manner that he might want back.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Depends on what level you are referring to. Are you telling us that in your opinion Ross A has no senior coaching experience?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
can't think of a single instance of any club, anywhere, appointing a coach with zero prior experience, either assistant or juniors or women.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Sorry, but you weren't that obvious. Any senior coaching gig ties a person to that club. Ross will be a real asset for you guys up there and he has senior coaching experience.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thought it would be pretty obvious I mean senior men's job.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
You don't consider Ross as being from another club? He coached the Lady Reds, as well as being an assistant with the men's squad.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Midfielder, did you see Fornarolli's simulation? Wasn't even touched in that incident and often collapses in a heap if you so much as enter his personal space. At least Irankunda actually got fouled.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Exactly Waz. Most Aleague fans have P+ and watch it on that rather than the one match a week on FTA tv.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
yes, although unlike Sydney and many other clubs it would be a first for Roar who've never appointed a coach from another club. They've always introduced someone new to the A League. Mike Mulvey is the one exception, under somewhat extenuating circumstances ex Gold Coast.
At work
Roar Rookie
Maybe once we finally sack him Corica will head home and get a coaching gig with the Roar :silly:
At work
Roar Rookie
I think if you poll Sydney fans you'd be surprised at how many rate the rivalry with MV over WSW. I get more satisfaction from a win over MV than I do WSW, probably because I consider us the two biggest clubs in the league.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Corica added to it with 'hey, I'm a Queenslander and so are many of my squad'. Sydney away fan numbers are usually high, but not the last game. I think there's many factors influencing Roar crowds, management as you say but they are trying very hard to address that. The lack of a local presence in the football media doesn't help. Up to this season we are the only club without a local caller for home matches, and we've never had a presence on panel shows. Nothing worse than listening to ex MV and SFC players discussing the state of football in Qld, or SA & NSW journalists writing about the lack of investment in Qld football. No one blows Roar's whistle, to the contrary, they blast them on rumors they've heard, no research and no knowledge, quickly firing up fans who let forth the familiar emotive outbursts we hear too often. Results matter most - give them time, not this year or even next, but it's coming.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
We are where we are because of poor management, not supposed rivalries. The idiots running the League (into the ground) are the culprits. It's almost comical how badly the League is run, not rugby union comical but not far off.
Waz
Roar Rookie
JW The team rivalry between SFC was real in the early days and drew in big crowds and tv interest. The State of Origin thing was a bit flawed imo BUT they were at least trying marketing out … as I said earlier, Arnold actively worked against it and shut it down which was a disgrace … and we are where we are today with crowds
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Yes, funny seeing a team try to improve attendance. Don't ever remember the 'steal our youth' call but there were many years where Victory recruited heavily from Roar, start with Ange then Rado and more recently Jeff Hopkins. The player list is very long. Just a fact, not an attempt to get rivalry going.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Arnie's never gotten over his grand final defeat at Mariners v Roar.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Just ignore him
chris1
Roar Rookie
"9/10 players would react the same regardless of their age or ethnicity" Absolutely right. In fact players get more grumpy as they get older.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
It's been funny seeing Brisbane try get rivalries going, first with Melbourne 'you steal our youth'!!! then with Sydney 'State of Origin'!!!
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I will accept that the tribalism between CCM and Newcastle could match the original rivalry. But do they really hate each other? Nothing anyone can say will convince me there is a genuine rivalry between SFC and Victory, yes they are good games and always fiercely competitive, but it isn’t real tribalism. Not too sure. The same could be said about the City / Victory games. In the old days when the WSW active supporters were feral, YES, then you could see the hatred in their eyes. Today I’m not so sure. A healthy dislike is more like it. But you made good points.
Waz
Roar Rookie
We don’t know that. If you’re an A League fan you’re most likely to have P+ to watch games, not watch 1 game a week - particularly if your team rarely features. My best would be there’s typically 15-50k watching a game on P+, not 2% - that makes no sense.