Western draw with Sydney in soggy conditions

SYDNEY FC midfielder Max Burgess has denied his former club Western United the chance to pull further clear on the A-League Men’s ladder.

At a rain soaked Netsrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday, Burgess’s second goal of the season cancelled out Steven Lustica’s opener as Sydney and Western had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Western thought they’d earned a late chance to secure the three points when referee Shaun Evans gave a penalty in stoppage time for a handball by Rhyan Grant.

The Socceroos’ fullback deflected a Dylan Wenzel-Halls header with the upper part of his left arm.

But after reviewing the replay on the pitch side TV monitor, Evans overturned his decision and rescinded the yellow card he’d shown to Grant.

Several Western players including Neil Kilkenny remonstrated with Evans at the full-time whistle and coach John Aloisi admitted he was confused by the reversal.

“I’m not totally sure of where the handball is? Is it the sleeve now is not handball or is it below the sleeve? If it is the sleeve well then I’m going to get my players to wear a longer sleeve,” Aloisi said.

“I’m not sure if it’s clear and obvious to overturn it. Disappointed, yes, but we have to get on with it and sometimes these decisions will go for you and sometimes against you.

“Unfortunately it went against us.”

In the wet conditions Sydney came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening half when a Milos Ninkovic effort in the 30th minute was palmed onto the post by Western goalkeeper Jamie Young.

Just 10 minutes after the restart the visitors were ahead when Lustica’s side footed effort from the edge of the box beat a blindsided Thomas Heward-Belle.

Burgess, forced to play as a No.6 following Anthony Caceres’ late withdrawal due to illness, levelled the scores in the 64th minute when he finished off some good work by Bobo and Ninkovic.

Heward-Belle, playing ahead of Socceroo Andrew Redmayne for the second straight week, and Young both made fine saves from Josh Risdon and Ninkovic respectively to maintain parity before the late penalty drama.

Sydney coach Steve Corica, who was furious on the sideline with Evans’ initial decision to award the penalty, was adamant the right call had been made in the end.

“There’s no way Rhyan Grant could’ve got his hand down from there… he jumped for the ball and he’s on his way down and they headed it straight into his hand,” Corica said.

“I was a bit worried but obviously they made the right decision.”

– BY ED JACKSON/ AAP