Sydney FC fought again to assert a controversial 1-1 draw within the first leg of their A-League Men semi-final in opposition to Melbourne City.
But the match was marred by excessive drama after referees compelled a second-half Sydney FC penalty to be retaken after it was initially saved.
City has been the standout workforce all season on their approach to a 3rd consecutive premiership, and survived an early Sydney onslaught to take the lead within the 18th minute with their first shot of the match.
Socceroos winger Mat Leckie, making his first begin for City since February after recovering from a hamstring harm, opened the scoring with a header – a fifth purpose in his final 5 video games in opposition to Sydney.
City goalkeeper Thomas Glover then produced a string of world-class saves to protect the guests’ benefit, together with a superb double-save simply earlier than halftime.
Playing in his a hundredth competitors recreation, Glover then brilliantly denied an Anthony Caceres penalty try on the hour mark.
But after a prolonged video evaluation, the penalty was retaken after referees deemed City’s Callum Talbot to have encroached on the penalty space previous to the ball being kicked.
Sydney striker Adam le Fondre made no mistake with the second try to increase his scoring streak to 6 consecutive video games.
The Sky Blues poured ahead after that controversial equaliser, and appeared to take the lead with ten minutes to go when Le Fondre squared the ball for former Socceroos fullback Rhyan Grant to comb residence – just for Le Fondre to be given off-side.
Le Fondre himself had put the ball at the back of the web from an analogous place within the opening minutes. He poked residence from shut vary after a sq. cross from Robert Mak within the eighth minute, however that early strike was additionally dominated out for a Mak off-side.
Sydney’s vibrant begin almost delivered a purpose two minutes after that when Le Fondre’s long-range drive was tipped across the submit by a diving fingertip save from Glover.
But City made Sydney pay for his or her failure to transform these early probabilities as Leckie struck in opposition to the run of play within the 18th minute.
A set piece close to the left aspect of the realm was pushed in by Valon Berisha, and Leckie leapt highest to energy his header residence from six yards.
The groups will now journey to Melbourne for the second leg on Friday, with the victor to face both Adelaide United or Central Coast Mariners within the last.
But having received simply one in every of their six most up-to-date conferences with City, Sydney faces a herculean process to succeed in a primary grand last since 2020-21, the identical 12 months City claimed a maiden Championship.
Originally printed as A-League finals: Penalty controversy in Sydney FC 1-1 draw with Melbourne City
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
