At Perry Park, Brisbane: Brisbane Roar 2 (Tameka Yallop 34’, Kijah Stephenson 46’) Wellington Phoenix 1 (Isabel Cox 20’) HT: 1-1
Wellington Phoenix really feel they’ve been robbed after a “clear penalty” for handball was not given within the dying phases of their 2-1 defeat to Brisbane Roar within the A-League Ladies.
The arm of defender Leah Scarpelli got here to Brisbane’s rescue at Perry Park on Sunday evening when new signing Isabel Cox seemed destined to attain an 86th minute equaliser for the Phoenix.
Scarpelli denied a sure purpose from being scored when her outstretched arm blocked Cox’s on-target shot on the purpose line, and it ought to have resulted in a Phoenix penalty.
Nevertheless, the handball was missed by referee Caitlin Williams and there was no Video Assistant Referee to appropriate the choice when the pleas for a penalty from the Phoenix gamers had been ignored by the official, as VAR just isn’t used within the A-League Ladies.
“It’s a transparent handball, It is a fairly dead-set penalty. The digital camera angle [shows] a really clear handball on the road,” Phoenix coach Paul Temple mentioned.
“It’s disappointing the officers don’t see it since you need them to be choosing up issues like that.
“We’ve acquired to ask the query, why VAR is within the males’s league however not the ladies’s league, as a result of if that goes to VAR it’s a transparent penalty and that fully adjustments the angle for us.”
The handball controversy capped off a depressing evening for the Phoenix, who’ve now misplaced their final 4 matches on the street, after a stunning mistake from goalkeeper Rylee Foster handed the Roar their first purpose.
The Phoenix broke the early impasse when Cox headed residence from point-blank vary following a Michaela Foster nook supply.
However Brisbane got a present when Foster panicked on the ball whereas attempting to play out from the again.
She needlessly coughed up possession and Brisbane’s Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop didn’t want a second invitation, lobbing the ball again over Foster’s head to stage the rating within the thirty fourth minute.
It was a horrible second for Foster, who had been reinstated into the beginning lineup on the expense of Brianna Edwards after lacking the Phoenix’s 1-0 defeat to Sydney FC as a consequence of concussion protocols.
The error proved pricey when Brisbane hit the entrance 20 seconds into the second half after winger Sharn Freier acquired on the surface of Phoenix proper again Hailey Davidson.
Frier – who had been a risk all match – squared a ball throughout the face of purpose and Kijah Stephenson ran by to attain.
Like in different current defeats, the Phoenix created greater than sufficient probabilities to win the match.
Macey Fraser pressured plenty of high drawer saves out of Brisbane goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz.
Substitute Michaela Robertson ought to have equalised for the Phoenix earlier than the handball controversy when she was performed in behind by Alyssa Whinham.
However the winger tried to select the underside left nook from the precise and fluffed her end, sending her shot extensive.
The Phoenix have now misplaced back-to-back video games, stalling their progress after a vibrant begin below new coach Temple.
They’re fourth on 16 factors on the midway level of the season, however ought to actually be placing away groups like Brisbane, who had not gained in eight prior matches.
Temple admitted the group by no means recovered after Foster’s first-half blunder.
“You don’t need to lose a recreation and blame the referee, it’s not all about that, they’re simply elements, and we’ve acquired to take duty for ourselves and that’s the primary takeaway,” Temple added.
“Clearly, we had an actual calamity [with Brisbane’s first goal] which is an actual disgrace for us, however it’s what it’s, and we’ve acquired to study to mud ourselves off as a result of it affected us method an excessive amount of.
“We misplaced ourselves for the rest of the half and did not come out in the precise mind set.
“We’re dwelling on errors, and mentally we’ve acquired to be higher collectively and transfer ahead and transfer on from errors we make, as a result of not solely is it costing us objectives or factors, but it surely’s costing us efficiency.”
Sunday’s defeat leaves the Phoenix 10 factors adrift of leaders Melbourne Metropolis on a congested desk.
Solely 5 factors separate the Phoenix and tenth place Western Sydney Wanderers.
Up subsequent
The Phoenix have a fast turnaround, taking part in Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Friday as a part of the inaugural United Spherical, which can see each group from the A-League Males and Ladies play in the identical metropolis on the identical weekend. The Phoenix will stay in Australia to minimise the journey in between video games. Central Coast gained 1-0 when the 2 groups met in Gosford in November.