An Alex Gersbach red card and three contentious offside, or non-offside calls, dominated the online chatter as Adelaide United defeated Sydney FC 2-1 through a late Marcelo Carrusca penalty.
The youngster was late into a challenge on United midfielder Jimmy Jeggo midway through the first half, making contact with the ex-Victory player’s ankle. He and the referee were quickly swarmed by team mates and the left-back was given his marching orders, with even Graham Arnold and Steve Corica immediately accepting Gersbach’s fate.
The Reds pushed Sydney after gaining their one-man advantage. Sergio Cirio found himself through on Janjetovic’s goal in the opening half but was pegged back by the linesman’s flag, adjudged to have strayed offside. Replays showed the decision was line ball.
Adelaide would experience something of a case of deja vu soon after. Pablo Sanchez found the corner with a header, but he too was flagged. Again, the decision was a case of splitting hairs and the score remained deadlocked.
Halfway through the second stanza, Jeggo, the man on the end of the send-offable Gersbach tackle, let fly from outside the area not once, but twice, hitting the bar on the first occasion but find the corner on the second.
His strike would soon be cancelled out, however, as Sydney marquee Filip Holosko equalised with a brilliant finish over his shoulder. But true to the theme of the night, there was controversy. Replays showed that the Slovak could easily have been called offside.
There was to be one more twist. Jacques Faty brought down Dylan McGowan at a corner in the dying moments, leaving referee Strebre Delovski no choice but to point to the spot. Carrusca dispatched the spot kick to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Twitter had its say in a controversial affair. Here’s the best of the internet discussion.
Welcome back (boy)cotter. #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/jZmsa1xFa4
— Declan Rooney (@DeclanRooney) December 11, 2015
The look on Arnold’s face said it all about that red card challenge #ADLvSYD
— d j (@deejbah) December 11, 2015
Bad tackle and defs a red yes but not a malicious bone in the kids body #ADLvSYD — Josh Gersbach (@JGersbach17) December 11, 2015
Graham Arnold: “He’s off” #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/mgnf7k0vSI — David Manuca (@davidmanuca) December 11, 2015
How on earth did Faty escape punishment then? The mind boggles. Can see this game blowing up. Stay tuned. #ADLvSYD
— Tom Chadwick (@TomChadwickFox) December 11, 2015
Foul after foul, ridiculous. #ADLvSYD
— Katie Lambeski (@katielambeski) December 11, 2015
Remember when sydney used to play fairly?……yeah, me neither #ADLvSYD — gRuBB (@da_blobster) December 11, 2015
Sydney could be playing seven a side if they keep going like this #ADLvSYD #sbsaleague — Laura (@hudsl22) December 11, 2015
Me when I watch Sydney play #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/AWG8SwlMXH
— Asim Buday (@AsimBuday) December 11, 2015
Sydney’s tackling practice during the week #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/cM4wknmuTB
— CrownBet.com.au (@crownbet) December 11, 2015
Please, pass this on to Arnie, with my condolences @SydneyFC #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/So3bnjM055 — Ali Saenz (@ali_saenz) December 11, 2015
I know when that fruchoc bling…… #ADLvSYD. pic.twitter.com/4nMZ6Qe55h — West Sydney Football (@WestSydney) December 11, 2015
Choosing between #ADLvSYD and Fallout 4. Which one has more violence?
— Michael | MVFC (@MVictoryFan) December 11, 2015
Adelaide aren’t very good at getting the ball in the goal.. #ADLvSYD
— Rob (@RobskiNew) December 11, 2015
Superb goal from Jeggo. Showing fantastic technique twice #ADLvSYD — David Jack (@DavidJack20) December 11, 2015
Holosko!! #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/kWqUblz5b5 — Mo™ (@MJEagle23) December 11, 2015
I’m sure Reds fans will be delighted to hear “benefit of the doubt to the attacking team” #ADLvSYD
— DestructionInTheBox (@DITBPod) December 11, 2015
Bruce Djite coming on. Last time he scored Caitlyn Jenner was a man. #ADLvSYD
— Liam Sheedy (@Sheeds1984) December 11, 2015
Hahaha some random kid just got lifted in the air during the celebration! #ADLvSYD — Brad (@bradfogarty95) December 11, 2015
I’m naming my first child Marcelo ⚽️ ?? #ADLvSYD #COYR — Steve Kourasanis (@Steve_Koura) December 11, 2015
Now time for the Arnold presser. #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/SUAoNbBLwM
— matt (@DTDmatt) December 11, 2015
So many referees on Twitter tonight… #ADLvSYD
— Gareth Askham (@GarethAskham) December 11, 2015
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
