Victory coach Arthur Diles takes aim at ref after ‘fiery’ Melbourne derby
The fiery Melbourne derby was riddled with numerous contentious calls — and Victory coach Arthur Diles had the referee in his sights after the match.
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Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles has taken aim at referee Jonathon Barreiro by suggesting he was not the right man to officiate the local derby against Melbourne City on Saturday night at AAMI Park.
The fiery 2-2 draw was riddled with numerous contentious calls and non-calls.
City’s Kai Trewin was perhaps fortunate not to be shown a straight red card when his studs raked Santos’ shin while attempting to win the ball. Instead he was given a caution.
Trewin’s teammate Andres Kuen was lucky not to draw a second yellow for pushing Roderick Miranda in the back well after the Victory captain dispatched of the ball, and Miranda amazingly avoided a second yellow as well for bringing down Aziz Behich in the box and giving away a penalty.
And Victory’s shouts for a penalty when Santos’ bicycle kick cannoned into Nathaniel Atkinson’s hand in the box were turned down, although VAR didn’t call Barreiro over to have a closer look on that occasion.
“I think they should always put the best referees to ref these big occasions and that’s always a reward for the best referees,” Diles said.
“I don’t know if that was the case (on Saturday night).
“The players dealt with it well, that’s for sure. Don’t know about the rest.”
Diles also took aim at the City supporter base for failing to hold up their end of the bargain in ensuring the Melbourne derby is regarded as the best crosstown match-up in the league.
“You look out there tonight when it’s our home game and it’s pretty one-sided in terms of fans,” Diles said.
“You look when it’s their home game and it’s pretty much the same.
“There’s one team that’s really making this derby fill the stands and unfortunately that’s a reality.
“You’d like to see more from the opposing team turn up, that’s for sure, to make it an even bigger derby and to create even more atmosphere.”
Diles’ first game in charge of Victory was a derby back in December, just days after former coach Patrick Kisnorbo dropped a bombshell by leaving the club only seven games into his three-year deal to take up an assistant coaching role in Japan.
Fast forward to Diles’ second derby in charge, with Victory in the upper rungs of the ladder, having lost just one of their last five games, and it’s fair to say things have turned around for them after they went six games without a win following Kisnorbo’s departure.
“It’s come around quickly, that’s for sure. It feels like yesterday I was sitting in this chair for the first time,” Diles said.
“It’s been enjoyable and it’s always enjoyable when you’ve got really good staff around you, good people around you, a great team with a great changeroom.
“When you have that it makes your job easier.”
Defender Brendan Hamill was a very late withdrawal due to soreness, but it’s not considered serious, so he should be in contention to face Brisbane on Saturday.
Mariners hopes of third straight A-League title fading fast after Wanderers defeat
– Steven Russo for Newswire
The Western Sydney Wanderers have moved back into the top six after an easy 4-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium.
Victory over the defending champions saw Alen Stajcic’s side finish the match in third spot on the A-League Men’s ladder, but even if Sydney FC, Melbourne City or the Melbourne Victory managed to leapfrog them in later matches, the lowest they could have finished on Saturday night was sixth place.
“We’re looking good heading into the final straight … [but] We’re still not there, there’s still a couple of games to go,” Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic said.
“The Melbourne Cup doesn’t finish at the 2500 metre mark … [but] I’m really comfortable that we’re developing and improving as a team.”
Stajcic’s men were on fire from the outset and had sealed the win by halftime after scoring three goals in the opening 40 minutes.
“The first 10 or 15 minutes was probably some of the best high-pressing football we’ve played this year,” the coach said.
“Looking back … we probably won the game in that 10–15-minute period and set the tone.”
Mariners goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic proved the catalyst for the Wanderers’ first goal when his mis-hit header bounced back towards his open net, creating a comically easy goal for Zac Sapsford after six minutes. Sapsford was involved in the visitors’ second goal too, with his backheel pass setting up Jack Clisby seven minutes later.
Alou Kuol thought he’d pegged one back for the home side in the 39th minute when he pushed the ball into the net after colliding with Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas in an aerial contest. However, this was denied after the referee ruled the striker had made illegal contact with the Wanderers’ custodian.
Nicolas Milanovic put the result beyond doubt five minutes before the break when he deflected a Dean Pelekanos shot past the luckless Pavlesic, but things would only get worse for the Mariners shot stopper in the second half.
In the 69th minute, Pavlesic conceded a penalty for tripping Wanderers substitute Marcus Antonsson in the box. While he managed to save the first spot kick, the VAR ordered a re-take after ruling the keeper had come off his line early. Antonsson made no mistake from his second attempt.
The result means that the Mariners’ chances of a third straight championship are fading fast. They currently sit in 10th spot on the ladder on 21 competition points with just eight games remaining.
“It’s not what we wanted and not what we expected … I’m gutted,” Mariners coach Mark Jackson said of the match.
“They outfought us, suffocated us and out-muscled us.”
“We were physically ready, but we fell short.
“We need to get to the bottom of why we allowed a team to do that to us … and rectify it quickly.”
STAJ FUMES OVER DENIED PENALTY
Despite the Wanderers’ dominant first-half performance, Stajcic was still unhappy at the break after the Wanderers were denied what Paramount+ commentator Andy Harper described as a “1000%, deadset penalty.”
With Western Sydney on the attack at the half-hour mark, Milanovic threaded a short ball to Bozhidar Kraev, who was clipped in the box by Brian Kaltak. The decision was reviewed by VAR, which ruled that Kaltak had no case to answer.
“It was just a clear trip,” a measured Stajcic said of the incident post-match.
ZAC ATTACK
Unheralded Western Sydney midfielder Zac Sapsford continued to impress against the Mariners. While the likes of Brandon Borrello and Milanovic attract plenty of plaudits, the underrated Sapsford has become equally as important to the red and blacks. His early strike was his seventh goal of the season, putting him into the picture for this season’s golden boot.
Auckland cement grip at top of A-League table
– Ryan Rosendale
Auckland has completed a clean sweep of rivals Wellington to further cement its grip at the top of the A-League table.
Playing in their third and final derby of the season on Saturday, it was a dominating first-half performance that set up the ladder leaders for an emphatic 6-1 win at Go Media Stadium.
A hat-trick to Neyder Moreno proved the difference with the Columbian star scoring back-to-back goals in the 31’ and 36’ minute before adding another in the 60’.
After a slow opening 10 minutes – where neither side posted a shot at goal – Nando Pijnaker attempted to break the deadlock but a solid block from defender Francisco Geraldes ensured the game remained at an even score.
Auckland forward Max Mata then appeared to start the party early for the Black Knights but his goal was denied by the referee for a push in the back.
Mata recovered to register the assist to Moreno some ten minutes later before he again had the chance to convert, with his deflected shot giving an unmarked Moreno the opportunity to fire another shot into the back of the net.
A VAR challenge couldn’t deny Logan Rogerson from joining the party just before halftime, with the 3-0 lead all coming in the space of a wild 11-minute period for Auckland.
After an early goal from Luke Brook-Smith after the long-break, the Phoenix’s hopes of an upset were restored but he quickly turned from hero to villain after allowing Moreno to slot through his third with a poorly timed cross.
Rogerson then added another in the 80’ minute to snuff out any chance of an unlikely comeback before an injury-time goal to Jesse Randall heaped further pain on Wellington.
The win was Auckland’s fourth on the trot while Wellington suffered its fourth straight loss.
Originally published as Victory coach Arthur Diles takes aim at ref after ‘fiery’ Melbourne derby
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