Adelaide United winger Nikola Mileusnic calls for VAR consistency after Reds’ contentious season-opening loss to Sydney FC
VAR consistency, not recrimination, is what Adelaide United wants, after its season-opening A-League loss to reigning champion Sydney FC was marked by a string of game-changing decisions.
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Adelaide United is seeking VAR consistency, not recrimination, in the wake of its contentious season-opening loss to Sydney FC.
The 10-man Reds went down 3-2 to the reigning champion at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night, in a thrilling clash marked by four game-changing decisions by the officials.
United winger Nikola Mileusnic questioned the first half penalty the Sky Blues converted, after referee Alex King had to consult a replay to spot Michael Jakobsen’s hand ball.
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But the speedster backed the pair of tight offside calls, correctly confirmed by VAR, and Ryan Strain’s second-half dismissal for halting Adam Le Fondre’s progress towards goal.
Mileusnic said continuing to apply the letter of the law with the help of technology would be the true test as the A-League campaign unfolds.
“That’s what we expect,” said Mileusnic, who fired in a stunning free kick to drag the hosts back into the contest after falling 2-0 behind.
“But we’ll see whether it happens or not.
“In both (offside) circumstances there was millimetres in it.
“You’re just sort of waiting around and hoping it goes for your team.
“But if it’s a tough decision and they make the right call, then I’m happy to wait (for VAR).
“Hopefully they can keep it consistent for every team and every game in the A-League.”
Mileusnic believed Reds skipper Jakobsen’s arm was in a natural position when he was adjudged to have blocked Le Fondre’s volley for the visitor’s spot-kick opener.
But he endorsed the VAR-influenced offside calls which allowed Al Hassan Toure’s equaliser and chalked off Kosta Barbarouses’ goal after the break.
Mileusnic said the positioning of Strain’s red card meant it was unlikely to be overturned.
He hailed the bravery of his side in pushing for a winner, despite playing the last half-hour a man short, before SA-born Ryan McGowan’s heartbreaking 87th minute header.
“We were all a bit shocked and a bit devastated (post-match),” Mileusnic, 26, said.
“We did so well to get back in the game from 2-0 down, but then to let it slip from a corner was a bit of a kick in the stomach.
“It was always going to be uphill from there (the red card).
“But we kept going because we knew we were going to create more chances and we’ll take positives out of this game.
“A lot of the boys are liking the attacking style of play and we’re getting a lot of joy from it.”
The White City and Adelaide City product was justifiably proud of the 20m set piece he converted to lift United’s spirits in the shadow of half-time.
He said the off-season departures of free kick specialists Isaias and Craig Goodwin had allowed him to rise in the dead ball pecking order.
“Craig or Isa would let you take one,” said Mileusnic, who ranked the strike second behind his curler, also against the Sky Blues, in the 2017 FFA Cup final.
“But in the circumstances we’d stick to those players, because you knew they were a good chance of scoring.
“That was my first free kick in the A-League, so I was quite happy with the result.
“I got good connection with it and with those sort of free kicks, if you get them on target they’re a fair chance of going in.”
The Reds now faced a challenging 10-day stretch.
Gertjan Verbeek’s men would travel to face Melbourne City at AAMI Park next Sunday, before taking on the same opponent in the FFA Cup decider at Hindmarsh three days later.
“All the boys are really excited, especially for the final,” Mileusnic said.
“Waiting all this time to play proper games has been long and tough and quite frustrating at times.
“We’re definitely raring to go.”