Sydney FC went into the sheds at half-time of Saturday night’s derby Elimination Final trailing Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 after the decision from referee Chris Beath to award the hosts a penalty for a handball in the box by Sky Blues captain Alex Wilkinson.
The visiting side travelled to CommBank Stadium eager to get one over their crosstown rivals after a 4-0 defeat in the last derby meeting of the regular season, but were put behind the eight-ball at the break by Wanderers midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin’s calmly-dispatched spot kick in the 39th minute.
The Wanderers were sent to the spot after Calem Nieuwenhof’s cross into the box deflected off the boot of Sydney FC midfielder Luke Brattan, and off a combination of Wilkinson’s chest and outstretched arm.
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Sky Blues head coach Steve Corica was visibly perplexed on the Network 10 broadcast as VAR assessed the incident – but Beath’s on-field call was eventually allowed to stand, with Schneiderlin gladly stepping forward to put the home side ahead.
Former A-Leagues striker Daniel McBreen joined Simon Hill on the Network 10 commentary, and reviewed the incident in real time.
“There’s not much Alex Wilkinson can do about it as he looked to block the cross,” McBreen said. “It comes up off the ground… the arm is up in the air and strikes Wilkinson. It comes off the chest and onto the arm.”
The Wanderers held their one-goal advantage to the break. Then, the debate picked up during the Network 10 half-time show.
“A highly contentious call,” said host Tara Rushton, “with whether Alex Wilkinson – who is the most experienced player when it comes to finals – indeed was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area.
“How did you see it?”
Joining Rushton were Alex Brosque and Archie Thompson, legends of Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory respectively, who both admitted that in their eyes, the penalty call was the right one.
“The most telling factor there is: once it happens, Alex Wilkinson doesn’t go screaming to the referee. It’s almost as if he knows it. His arm was out, it’s accidental, completely accidental – and it comes off Luke Brattan’s foot,” Brosque said.
“It’s a complete accident. But for me, where it strikes him, the arm is away from the body, it’s going to Borrello who could have had a chance on goal. So really, you can’t see any arguments there.”
Thompson added: “Look, it was really the first time Western Sydney were able to get behind. It was the individual bit of skill from Nieuwenhof to set that up. But you’re so unlucky when it deflects off (another player).
“You have no real time to move your body, and like Brosquey said, (his) arm was away. As soon as it touches your arm, it’s a penalty.”
