Brisbane Roar head coach Warren Moon praised Perth Glory striker Bruno Fornaroli’s ability to influence officials after losing his cool on the sideline in Wednesday’s Isuzu UTE A-League clash at Moreton Daily Stadium.
Normally an understated presence on the touchline, Moon reacted angrily just before half-time when referee Alireza Faghani awarded the Uruguayan a free-kick following a challenge with Roar defender Scott Neville.
READ: ‘He has to work that out’ – Garcia’s Sturridge test
Feeling Fornaroli had embellished the contact, Moon roared in disapproval with the decision before remonstrating with officials, earning him and Neville yellow cards from an unmoved Faghani.
When asked about the touchline drama, Moon said his frustration had got the better of him after what he believed was one of several moments where Fornaroli had been incorrectly deemed to be fouled.
“I’m pretty calm on the sideline and I thought Fornaroli had gone down a little bit too easy on a couple of occasions before,” Moon said after the 1-0 victory.
“Very clever player, a great player but he’s good at that.
“I sort of said to the fourth official ‘it’s happening’ and it happened one time too many because I thought it was a clean tackle and I just let the referee know that I thought that was fair but I haven’t seen it back.”
Former Glory youth player Henry Hore’s first A-League Men goal in the second-half ensured Moon left the ground in a happier mood, with the club’s first win of the season locked away thanks to the 1-0 scoreline.
One win could become two when the Roar return to their home ground on Sunday to face Adelaide United.
Having propelled themselves off the bottom of the ladder above Wellington and the Glory with Wednesday’s triumph, Moon knows another three points would change the outlook on the club’s campaign dramatically.
“Just goes back to what I said when we weren’t going so well that the A-League changes really quickly,” he said.
“If we can manage to get three points on Sunday, then that sets us up nicely going into whoever we play after that.”
