The final Sydney derby of the 2021/22 A-League season ended in a typically controversial decision, Sydney FC benefiting from a poor VAR call to hold on to a 3-2 win at Kogarah Oval in a result that ends the Wanderers slim hopes of playing finals football.
Sydney FC's big news in the pre-game was the loss of their two first team goalkeepers. Former Wanderer Andrew Redmayne was out with illness following his return to Sydney from international duty, and backup, and also former Wanderer youth product Thomas Heward-Belle due to a concussion. This left Steve Corica with no choice but to hand an A-League debut to Adam Pavlesic. For the Wanderers the main focus of the week leading up to the game was Keanu Baccus making his 100th A-League appearance for the Wanderers. Stalwart midfielder Steven Ugarkovic was the biggest name relegated to the bench, enabling Terry Antonis & Baccus to form the central midfield duo.
The game had barely time to start before the home side were in front. Sydney FC took advantage of Thomas Aquilina missing an interception on a ball down the flank to speedster Trent Buhagiar, who found Adam Le Fondre with his back to goal. On a 9 game run without a goal he turned, fired, getting lucky as it went through the legs of Phillip Cancar's block and past the dive of Daniel Margush.
In the 16th minute the Wanderers profited from defensive confusion. Kejiro Ogawa broke the line then nodded it back to Tomer Hemed, who manged to win a corner when Pavlesic & Rhyan Grant collided. The corner was swept in and headed way up in the air. Milos Ninkovic tried to clear it but did nothing but bounce it up in the air again caused by the pressure from Cancar. It fell toward Hemed who volleyed through a sea of bodies giving the young keeper no chance.
Sydney FC thought they had the lead again in the 27th minute. With the ball running out for a goal kick, Grant hooked the ball back into the penalty area for Buhagiar, who fired into the ground and beat Margush perhaps with the help of a deflection or bobble off the turf. Their joy was momentary however as the linesman had correctly ruled the ball had gone over the line for a goal-kick.
Margush was called into action when Callum Talbot received a short corner all of 30 yards from goal, he absolutely blasted the ball towards the top corner, forcing Margush to jump to his maximum reach to tip it over the bar for a corner. Up the other end the Wanderers nearly took the lead themselves, as Pavlesic dropped the ball cold in the middle of the penalty area, allowing Hemed to lift it back over their head only to have it cleared off the line.
Seconds before the half-time break James Troisi copped a yellow card for a late challenge on Ninkovic, just seconds after the referee ignored a similar foul by James Donachie on Petratos. The Wanderers did well to overcome the early goal and on the balance of play going in level wasn't too harsh on either side. There were chances at both ends, and the big names on the benchs threatened a second half of more assertive attacking play.
Petratos had the first major chance of the second half in the 57th minute. Troisi & Baccus worked the ball to enable Troisi to chip the ball into the chest of Hemed, who knocked it down for Petratos. His shot was outside of the foot much like Andrew Nabbout has made his trademark, but it was not powerful or aimed well enough to trouble the keeper.
Sydney FC went back in front, Buhagiar was fed by Le Fondre and Buhagiar's right footed shot from the middle of the box beat Margush. It was 3-1 minutes later, a simple through ball from deep in the defensive half from Retre that unleashed the pace of Buhagiar and he scythed clear of Cancar and finished well to give him a double.
Tate Russell came on in a quadruple sub and made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch of the game. Baccus picked up the ball in the midfield, with no opposition closing him down he found a superb diagonal ball to the far post for the run. Russell had a step on his marker, his header was weak but high in the air and aimed perfectly, Pavlesic scrambled hopelessly as the ball hit the side netting.
Aquilina came within inches of equalising. He squared up his defender on the edge of the area and let fly, smashing the ball into the base of the post.
Once again since it's introduction the VAR came to the rescue of Sydney FC. When Alireza Faghani missed a clear handball from James Donachie, the VAR ignored the obvious offence, with his hands well out by his side. It completely disregarded every handball penalty that the VAR has given against the Wanderers, and provided yet another example of how the officiating in the A-League is biased towards Sydney FC, and against the Red & Black. It robbed the Wanderers of a great chance to level the game in ways that they themselves have copped over the years.
There was even more drama in the minutes before stoppage time. Grant, having already been booked, received a second yellow for a blatant stamp on Aquilina. He went off prostrating his innocence but the offence was clear and the punishment was just. Steven Ugarkovic was another late sub and his shot forced a good save out of the young keeper.
Western Sydney had one final chance to snatch a draw, sending all but the keeper into the penalty area for a long free kick. Troisi took it, lofting it into the air where Mrcela could only knock it out for a goal kick.
It will now take a miracle for the Wanderers to find their way into the top 6, one that doesn't appear to be forthcoming. Rudan has done enough to impress the club owners and earn a longer term contract, and he is clearly saddled with a raft of useless plodders inherited from Carl Robinson. It is now time to bring out the axe.\
Ogawa & Petratos can go straight back to their loan clubs they don't need to stay another minute longer taking space from giving our younger players game-time, Ibini might have better luck scoring goals for the Mounties Wanderers, he's had 17 appearances this season and scored only a single goal, after his pitiful return of 5 goals from 26 games last year. Meijias and Gordon are no longer required either and should already be looking for new clubs next year. It is long past time for Jordi Swibel to at least get a shot on the bench.
The Wanderers next game is against fellow cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar, at the Western Sydney Stadium on Saturday the 9th of April with kick-off at 5:05pm.
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