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Wellington Phoenix has come off the wrong side of an epic seven goals after substitute Tomer Hemed was denied a late draw by the width of his shoulder in a 4-3 loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Israeli international appeared to have earned a point for the death on a drama-filled Monday night at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, only to have his second goal disallowed for a marginal offside following intervention by the video assistant referee.
“It’s a game of inches,” Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay lamented. “It’s disappointing. You probably have to look at it because footballers don’t score with their hands and I think their hand is offside.
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Wanderers players Kwame Yeboah, Keanu Baccus and Bruce Kamau celebrate full time.
“But I am very satisfied with the performance of our team, I thought we were the best team overall. You score three goals away from home and you should win games ”.
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The Phoenix led three times during the throbbing 90-minute game that will last in memory, but were stunned when Kwame Yeboah scored with six minutes remaining to clinch a remarkable victory for the Wanderers.
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Phoenix forward Homer Hemed converts a penalty shortly after entering the field.
Although Louis Fenton’s injury forced a last-minute shakeup, with Cameron Devlin making the starting lineup and Alex Rufer falling back to do a job in the less familiar right-back role, the Phoenix got off to a perfect start when Ulysses Dávila dismissed the visitors. forward after just seven minutes.
But it took a world-class punch from Devlin to drag them forward a second time after Daniel Wilmering appeared at the far post and tied the score at 1-1 following a miscommunication between defenders.
Devlin ended his 2000-minute A-League goal drought in spectacular style, knocking the ball down with his chest and launching a marvelous goal from long range. Not bad for a guy who was supposed to be on the bench.
“He scored a cookie goal. Funny how football works. Louis got hurt in the warm-up and he came in and did a great job. “
The bad set piece that has plagued the Phoenix throughout the season cost them again in the second half as Jordon Mutch edged out Rufer and James McGarry to find a corner kick and head the ball over goalkeeper Oli Sail. to put the 2-2.
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Ufuk Talay appeals to the assistant referee after Tim Payne was elbowed in the back before Mitchell Duke’s goal.
“I think what hurt us the most was conceding that set piece in the second half.”
Desperate for a goal, Hemed stepped forward to convert a penalty, won by Reno Piscopo, midway through the second half to restore the Phoenix’s one-goal lead.
But it was immediately called off when Mitchell Duke pushed Tim Payne out of the way, controlled the ball on his chest and threw a sweet volley to level the score once more.
“I thought there was a little nudge that put Tim off, but I think sometimes we’re a little naive. If Timmy feels like he needs to fall because if you fall, the referees usually give a free kick. “
Hemed, who was cheered on by a large group of Jewish supporters whom he personally invited to the game, thought he had saved a tie in the fifth minute of injury time, but replays showed that his shoulder had drifted offside while competing. for the long ball delivered in by Tim Payne.
“The game is all about scoring goals,” Talay said. “We cannot be pulling things up by a finger or a nail. It is very disappointing for the spectator who watches the game. You have to keep the rule in mind because you don’t score with your hand, you score with your feet or your head ”.
