Five things we learned from A-League Round 2

A derby day like no other dominated league-wide discussions this weekend as round two continued the A-League season’s thematic start.

(Left to right) Steven Taylor, Markus Babbel and Marco Kurz Source: Getty Images / AAP

Back to the future

Be it Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God”, Thierry Henry’s blatant “Hand of Frog” or Besart Berisha’s questionable grand final-winning tumble – football has long been beset by human error. 

For better or for worse, it’s the been the bittersweet soundtrack to a beautiful game and while purists would not have had it any other way, FIFA felt otherwise. 

But if the Video Assistant Referee was introduced to absolve football of its controversies, the A-League is yet to reap the rewards and Saturday’s Sydney derby was the latest “clear and obvious” reason why. 

Roly Bonevacia’s second-half strike was controversially ruled out by the VAR after Western Sydney Wanderers winger Jaushua Sotirio – in the words of referee Chris Beath – was said to have impacted “(Michael) Zullo’s ability to play the ball” from an “offside position”. 

With Sydney FC leading 2-0 courtesy of goals to Adam Le Fondre and Alex Brosque, Bonevacia’s effort would have set up a tense finish to an end-to-end affair. 

Instead, Beath’s decision caused a cacophony of jeers to descend upon the SCG, heightened by Wanderers coach Markus Babbel’s red card.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

During an age in which technology has helped make life easier, the VAR has instead complicated our simple game. 

And this latest interpretation is yet another reason why both fans and pundits consider the league at risk of regression, beyond the iconic gaffes of the past. 

The implementation game

Are you paying attention? 

That’s the question Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz had for Shaun Evans on Friday night after the referee – in the eyes of the German – failed to award the Reds a “clear penalty” after a coming together between George Blackwood and Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss. 

With scores level at one-apiece, Evans instead deemed Blackwood at fault for the “car accident” – a decision that left United fans incensed and Kurz at odds with the standard of officiating once again. 

“The players asked the referee about the VAR and the referee said ‘the VAR said to me it’s a foul from Blackwood’,” Kurz said. 

“But he didn’t watch it himself; who is the main referee: the VAR on the stage or the boy on the pitch? That for me we have to clear – is the VAR the boss or the referee?” 

Contrary to Kurz’s accusation, Evans answered the aforementioned questions at the time of the foul, trusting his own real-time judgement before then receiving confirmation from the VAR.

This, despite all plausible arguments in the past, was indeed one of the better instances of its implementation, or, rather, lack thereof. 

And it’s one Jets coach Ernie Merrick was relieved with post-game, telling reporters: “The operation of it has been pretty well disastrous so if the VAR got involved, I’d get pretty nervous”.

Glory days

“It’s a special win for the whole club … the way we’ve achieved it. Hopefully it’s a real step forward.” 

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic could not hide his emotions on Sunday after his side claimed a dramatic 3-2 triumph over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. 

A last-gasp goal to Christopher Ikonomidis broke Victory hearts mere minutes after Storm Roux had rescued the home side back from a 2-0 deficit. 

It was the Glory’s first win over the defending champions in Melbourne since 2013, and their first of the season under Popovic since his arrival following a forgettable stint in Turkey. 

The 45-year-old’s ruthless approach appears to have paid instant dividends at the West Australian club, who have demonstrated both a resilience in defence and effectiveness in attack through the first two weeks to sit second on the league ladder. 

And while it remains far too early to initiate title talk, a win next week at home to Brisbane Roar may just get fans of the NSL giants believing again.

Against all odds

United States legend Mia Hamm once said “there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.” 

Well, on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium, experienced Wellington Phoenix defender Steven Taylor went one better. 

With the ball sat perfectly before a gaping Brisbane Roar goal, the former Newcastle United mainstay managed to fluff his finish from less than six yards out. 

Victory would have seen the Nix notch back-to-back wins to start to a new season for the first time in club history. 

But instead, with a 0-0 draw all to show for their first-half dominance, Wellington are now left to wonder what could have been. 

"I've got players who've got their head in their hands," Phoenix coach Mark Rudan said following the full-time whistle. 

"But I'm glad we're talking about that rather than something else, those three letters starting with 'V'... it's good for a change."

Luck of the draw

Central Coast Mariners have survived the opening two rounds of the A-League season by the skin of their teeth. 

Consecutive 1-1 draws with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City respectively could well have ended in heavy defeats, if not for some wasteful finishing in front of goal. 

The Mariners have faced 44 shots in total, mustering just 11 in response, and while coach Mike Mulvey knows his men have rode their luck thus far, he believes there’s still plenty to admire. 

“We put in a great effort, it’s building blocks,” Mulvey said. 

“Last week we got a point, this week we got a point, so onwards and upwards from here. 

“The best is yet to come. We changed it up a bit from last week, we got a deserved goal after pressing high and I think if you look at it as a whole, City deserved the point but we’re disappointed that we conceded late on.”