Dylan McGowan did not dive, no matter what Graham Arnold said: Pablo Sanchez

THE aftermath of Friday’s thriller between Adelaide United and Sydney FC has done nothing to throw light on claims made by Sky Blues boss Graham Arnold about a contentious, game-deciding penalty.

12/12/15 Adelaide United recovery training in Elizabeth after their game last night. Picture: MATT LOXTON

THE aftermath of Friday’s thriller between Adelaide United and Sydney FC has done nothing to throw light on a statement made by Sky Blues’ boss Graham Arnold about a game-deciding penalty.

Reds star Pablo Sanchez says teammate Dylan McGowan didn’t utter a word to him about the last minute penalty, despite Arnold claiming the United centre-back had admitted the call was wrong.

Arnold claimed post match: “McGowan said it wasn’t a penalty. He said it to the players”.

Referee Strebre Delovski awarded a spot kick to United after the Reds defender clashed with Jacques Faty inside the box in the dying embers of the heated clash.

Marcelo Carrusca converted the spot kick to seal a 2-1 win for the Reds before Arnold blew up.

“No, no, I have heard nothing, no,’’ Sanchez said.

“I just know it was a clear penalty - there was contact and Dylan never dived. He’s a centre back, he’s a strong man and he never dives.”

Sanchez claimed the match balanced itself out when the Argentine scored the winner.

He had appeared to score a legitimate goal in stoppage time in the first half, but it was ruled offside.

Sydney’s Filip Holosko scoring an equaliser after coming back from an offside position added to the drama after Jimmy Jeggo’s sensational opening goal.

“I think I was in line with the last defender,’’ Sanchez said.

“For me it’s a legal goal, but it’s difficult for the referees to see the action live and see the line and the ball coming back and the cross before I scored.

“But finally we forgot that action and then we ended up winning the game.

“For me it’s bad because I wanted to score and it was a good one but it didn’t count.

“It would have been unfair not to win this game and finally it was a fair result for us.”

Adelaide’s consecutive wins have coincided with the return of Sanchez and Carrusca to the Reds starting XI.

Adelaide returned to the training track on Monday to prepare for another crunch clash, this time against Newcastle Jets away on Friday.

Adelaide has a super chance to equal the Jets points (12) and jump closer to top six reckoning.

Sanchez did not expect the Jets to dish up the same woeful display that led to the home side being pumped 4-0 by Melbourne City on Sunday but was confident about his team’s chances.

“If we play our style and we are brave and go forward and create chances, we can win,’’ Sanchez said.

“I saw the Jets and City game, City was very good and maybe Newcastle had a bad day.

“We can’t relax at all.”

Originally published as Dylan McGowan did not dive, no matter what Graham Arnold said: Pablo Sanchez