WESTGATE Sindjelic was in cruise control until the referee had a difference of opinion with the away side over two crucial decisions in a 1-1 draw with Altona East Phoenix in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2 north-west at Paisley Park on Saturday.
A penalty and a red card in the second half opened the door for Phoenix to steal a point, despite the travelling Sindjelic having looked the goods on the hour mark.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
Sindjelic secretary Bobby Vulovic was miffed with the decisions which led to Franck Labakohler’s equalising goal from the penalty spot for Phoenix and the sending off of Sindjelic playmaker Kwabee Otou-Acheampong.
“We got ripped off. It wasn’t a penalty. Our defender [Goran Petrovski] won the ball cleanly and the ref pointed to the spot before he even hit the ground.
“At best, it [the red card offence] was a yellow. At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of opinion.”
Sindjelic coach Robert Marinkovic was content with his lot at half-time. But, with just a one-goal lead in tow, his team was always vulnerable.
Alex Jovicic, a long-time servant of Sindjelic since playing juniors at the club, put his side in front on 40 minutes when he swivelled in the penalty box to tuck a loose ball home.
Vulovic said Sindjelic had a raft of possession and scoring opportunities to put the result beyond reach, but failed to convert in the front third and paid the price late on.
“We can only blame ourselves for that result,” Vulovic said.
“We had plenty of chances and if you don’t take them you get punished.”
Sindjelic, led by Irish import Russell Porter and the dependable Joey De Bono, was comfortable for the most part, but Phoenix nearly took advantage of the extra man when it slammed the ball into the post twice late in the game.
A point apiece was bittersweet for Sindjelic, two points dropped but one point gained that keeps it in fourth spot on the ladder.
* Green Gully Cavaliers have nowhere to hide after a dismal showing in a 3-0 loss to Dandenong Thunder in the Victorian Premier League on Saturday.
Last year’s champions clearly have some ground to make up on the Thunder, who sit on top of the table without a loss in the opening 10 rounds.
* Sydenham Park has taken the bragging rights over Cairnlea with a 2-0 win in the state league 2 local derby. It was a big victory for Sash Becvinovski’s team on the road at Cairnlea Park as it puts the Reds on equal points with second-placed Avondale Heights.
SCOREBOARD
VPL: Dandenong Thunder 3 Green Gully Cavaliers 0
SL1: North Geelong Warriors 4 St Albans Saints 1
SL2: Altona East Phoenix 1 Westgate 1; Altona City 0 Keilor Park 1
SL3: North Sunshine Eagles 4 Geelong SC 0; Cairnlea 0 Sydenham Park 2
PL1: Moreland United 3 Westvale 0; South Yarra 1 Maribyrnong Greens 0
PL2: Bell Park 2 Western Eagles 1
PL3: Brimbank Stallions 4 Watsonia Heights 1; Moreland Wolves 1 Balmoral 0
