Semi-Final chaos as Sydney FC denied goal despite ball crossing the line: Why it wasn’t given

Sydney FC were denied a goal in the most controversial of circumstances in Saturday night’s Semi-Final second leg against the Central Coast Mariners, with a VAR check revealing an offside in the lead-up.

The Sky Blues thought they had opened the scoring and pulled level on aggregate when Robert Mak’s shot appeared to trickle over the line in the 68th minute.

However, Brian Kaltak lunged in to make a desperate goal-line clearance, which saw the entire stadium hold its breath in anticipation, unclear whether or not the ball had in fact crossed the line.

SEND-OFF: Mariners coach shown two yellow cards in 30 seconds in outrageous Semi-Final moment

Referee Alireza Faghani went to the pitch-side VAR monitor to check the incident and ultimately returned with a verdict of no goal, ruling that Sydney striker Fabio Gomes was in an offside position during the move, much to the anger of the Sky Blues bench.

Industree Group Stadium went wild as the decision of no goal was delivered.

“Fabio was offside and interfered,” Faghani told viewers in the stadium and at home via Live VAR communication.

It will go down as a huge moment in this Semi-Final tie, which the Mariners still lead 2-1 after emerging victorious in first leg at Allianz Stadium.