And breathe.
Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix played out a drama-filled 1-1 draw in Gosford that well and truly had everything. Goals, big saves and plenty of controversy.
The Mariners led thanks to an early goal from James McGarry, firing home the opener against his former side. However, the game was flipped on its head when Central Coast defender Brian Kaltak was sent off early in the second-half for a challenge on Phoenix attacker David Ball.
Mariners players and staff weren’t pleased with the decision in the moment as the Vanuatu international seemingly collected the ball first before collecting Ball too high in the follow-up.
It was Kaltak’s third red card of the season, having been sent off against Macarthur and Sydney FC earlier this season.
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Even with ten, it seemed as if Central Coast were going to come away with all three points and they looked, at times, the likelier of the two teams to find the net again – forcing a number of huge saves from Phoenix keeper Ollie Sail.
But with minutes to go, chaos ensued at Industree Group Stadium. A beautiful of invention from Oskar Zawada brought the ‘Nix level, cleverly back-heeling the ball into the back of the net in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Moments later, a tangle between Mariners substitute Moresche and Phoenix defender Scott Wootton led to the former being sent off as the Brazilian striker took issue with the initial challenge and stuck a finger in the face of the Englishman.
In the immediate aftermath, Mariners coach Nick Montgomery was also dismissed by referee Jack Morgan.
Mariners legend, now member of the coaching staff, Matt Simon gave his thoughts about the decisions post-game on Paramount +.
“A lot of emotion tonight with the game. It was a big three points for both teams,” Simon said.
I can’t understand how that’s a red card (Kaltak’s). His foot bounces up off the ball, there’s minimal contact.
“So even with VAR there… I know that their job is to try and overturn horrific mistakes but honestly, if you’re not going to change that one, there’s no point in having it.
“The second one, it’s a red card. Moresche knows better, you can’t put your hands to someone’s face. So we need to cop that one on the chin.
“It’s pretty disappointing to lose the two points like that but even with Monty’s red card, sitting watching the second yellow, he’s not even out of his box, out of his technical area. Obviously, a lot of people are and the referee comes over and gives a second yellow.
“I don’t know what to say really.”
Paramount + expert Daniel McBreen agreed with his former team-mate Simon, believing Kaltak’s red card shouldn’t have been given.
“There wasn’t much force,” McBreen said.
“His foot goes on the ball and don’t worry about whether he got the ball first or anything like that. His foot goes on the ball and then just rolls across.
“You can’t tell me he’s gone with force through the player in a dangerous position, though.
To me, well, every player should be sent off because there’s contact every time there’s a ball in there.
Fellow expert and former Matilda Grace Gill shed some light on why Morgan decided to brandish the red card, from the laws of the game lens.
“I think the determination on that call was serious foul play,” Gill said.
“So take away any intent, any force. It was the studs to the shin. Look, I agree, it was a soft red but nonetheless, they are the laws of the game and it was a red card.
I don’t think it was a dangerous challenge, but it was determined to be serious foul play and the instruction referees were given at the start of the year was that any contact from studs to shin, studs to body is going to be determined in that light.
Central Coast keeper Danny Vukovic also weighed in post-game, saying that despite the decisions that went against his side, they need to “be better” in the weeks to follow.
“There’s no point in talking about the decisions,” Vukovic told Paramount +.
“Obviously, we are not happy with them and it seems to be happening every week. There’s no point talking about it anymore.
“We need to be better. We have to look at ourselves. We had so many chances, don’t take them and this is what happens. You allow a good team to stay in the game and that’s what happens.”
Conversely, on the opposite side, Sail believes the precedent for bookings was set early when his team-mate Bozhidar Kraev received a yellow card for a challenge on Josh Nisbet.
“I’m not gonna reserve judgment on the calls because I haven’t seen them,” Sail told Paramount +.
“But I think that’s what happens when you when you set the bar quite low for a yellow card in the first half.
“The challenge by BK (Kraev) didn’t catch one piece of the man and only took ball and he got booked so then you set a very low standard.
“What played out in the second half was probably set up in the first half.”
MATCH REPORT – AAP
A clever added-time finish from Polish striker Oskar Zawada has earned Wellington a point in Gosford against a nine-man Central Coast outfit.
The Mariners also had coach Nick Montgomery sent off in a feisty 1-1 draw.
The home side held the lead from the 12th minute after their two full backs and New Zealand internationals combined.
Recent signing James McGarry volleyed a cross from fellow defender Storm Roux to notch his first goal for the club in his third appearance.
The game started to turn from the 58th minute after Brian Kaltak was dismissed by referee Jack Morgan for a tackle on David Ball, which was deemed to be too high, despite the defender’s initial contact with the ball.
It was the Vanuatu international’s third red card of the season and his second in his last three games.
Wellington dominated territory and possession for the next 20 minutes, but were restricted to off-target shots.
The Mariners then had two good chances to extend their lead and seal the game, but Phoenix goalkeeper Oliver Sail saved goalbound shots from substitute Moresche and McGarry before Sam Silvera fired wide.
Wellington, who were playing a fourth straight away game, drew level in the fourth minute of added time, after Polish forward Zawada scored his tenth goal of the season with a clever back heel after the Mariners failed to clear a corner.
Shortly after, Moresche was sent off after he jabbed his finger into the face of Scott Wootton who was booked for holding the Brazilian, who then retaliated.
Montgomery, who was booked by Morgan for protesting the dismissal of Kaltak, got another yellow after another bout of dissent.
The point moves Central Coast up to outright second, one point ahead of Adelaide United, with Wellington level on points with Western Sydney but fifth on goal difference.
The hosts looked more threatening with Silvera and Beni Nkololo each forcing a save from Sail following the goal.
The game exploded into life in the last few minutes of the first half with multiple chances at both ends.
Roux made a superb goal line clearance at full stretch with his left boot to deny Yan Sasse and Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic saved shots from Zawada and Steven Ugarkovic.
At the other end, Sail stood tall to deflect a Marco Tulio shot with his head, pushed a way a Silvera effort with a foot and saved another attempt from Roux.
