VAR blunder produces controversy in A-League final

Sydney FC coach Steve Corica was left fuming after a controversial call against his side turned the A-League final into a “total farce”.

Was Sydney robbed of the first goal?

Sydney FC coach Steve Corica was left fuming after VAR failed to come to his aid in Sunday’s A-League grand final against Perth Glory.

The Sky Blues thought they had scored the opener in the 28th minute when Michael Zullo whipped the ball into the box and Glory defender Matthew Spiranovic accidentally knocked it into his own net.

But Sydney’s cheers soon turned to despair when the players realised the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.

Referee Shaun Evans sent the decision to VAR, but the decision was upheld. Zullo was the man deemed to be offside when Alex Brosque unleashed his pass. Replays — aided by the yellow line — showed Zullo to be in line with Spiranovic when Brosque passed the ball.

Corica received a yellow card for his protests and people debated the decision furiously on Twitter.

But technically VAR got it right — with the review system only able to overturn obvious errors.

This one was so line-ball that there was no scope for VAR to overturn it under the current guidelines.

Might as well scrap VAR and save the money.
Total farce if you can’t overturn that.#ALeagueGF

— 💧Colin (@ColinThomas1951) May 19, 2019

Feel like they may have rushed the offside verification... first replay looked off (cut in grass - Zullo)... but then came the line - its a massive call - and should have taken 2 minutes if required. #ALeagueGF #blooper #shocker

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) May 19, 2019

PERTH RALLIES AROUND DISTRAUGHT STAR

Perth Glory players have rallied around Brendon Santalab following the veteran’s penalty shootout anguish in Sunday’s grand final.

Santalab’s cheeky panenka penalty turned into a horror moment, with goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne holding his ground to snafflethe easiest of saves. Sydney FC snared the title 4-1 on penalties with the next kick. Santalab had already announced his retirement earlier in the season,meaning his penalty flop was his last kick in professional football.

The 36-year-old was near inconsolable after the match.

But Glory players were quick to make it known that they didn’t blame Santalab or Andy Keogh for their penalty misses.

A picture paints a thousand words.

“I pulled him aside and said, ‘Just keep your head up’ because he’s a mentor for me and a lot of other boys at the club,” Glory midfielder Chris Ikonomidis said of Santalab.

“He’s had a big impact for all of us this year and he’s got nothing to be embarrassed about or upset about.” Glory midfielder Neil Kilkenny also threw his support behind Santalab. “He was upset, like all of us. A bit gutted,” Kilkenny said. “It’s hard on him, the last A-League game.

“But he’s had a fantastic career, he’s a fantastic guy, and all the lads love him to bits.” Glory coach Tony Popovic said Santalab should be proud of his career despite the way it ended.

“He’ll reflect in his own time. No words are going to help him now,” Popovic said of Santalab’s penalty.

“He’s probably down for a lot of reasons. His career is coming to an end in the A-league. It’s not the way he envisaged ithappening.

“But that’s football. Football does these things. You have great moments, you have ups and downs.

“We’ve had plenty of highs, and today Santa is a bit down. But I’m sure when he reflects, he’ll be proud of the career he’s had.”

— with AAP

Originally published as VAR blunder produces controversy in A-League final