Adelaide United coach Michael Valkanis could not see how Dario Vidosic’s injury time goal could have been ruled offside.
Adelaide United coach Michael Valkanis could not see how Dario Vidosic’s injury time goal could have been ruled offside.
The Reds were forced to settle for a dramatic 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday.
The home side were in celebration mode after Vidosic’s late strike but the joy was short-lived as referee Lucien Laverdure intervened and, following extended consultation with assistant referee Daniel Goodwin, controversially disallowed the goal.
Valkanis thought it was a fair goal at first glance and maintained his original stance after watching subsequent television replays.
“We were celebrating,” Valkanis said. “We thought we’d won the game in the end.
“Just looking at the replay, I can’t see the offside and (or) how it was offside.
“It’s one of those moments I’m glad I’m not a linesman or referee.
“But we can’t do anything about that now – that’s been done.
“We’ve just got to be positive with our second-half performance which was very good.”
The man of the moment Vidosic agreed.
“It was a clear goal,” he told Fox Sports after the game, emphatically.
“Everyone makes mistakes but unfortunately that one cost us three points.”
The Reds fought their way back into the contest after conceding a shambolic goal to Michael Bridges in the dying moments of a sloppy first half.
A top-class Marcelo Carrusca equaliser shortly after half-time assured United a top-four berth and a home final.
Still, the players were hurting after thinking they’d grabbed a 2-1 lead at the death only to have it taken away.
“If you go into our dressing room right now, the boys look like they’ve lost the grand final,” Valkanis said.
“I’m trying to cheer them up because I thought their response in the second half was excellent.
“Even in the last four minutes of injury time, they were still going. Even after that bad decision (against Vidosic), they’re still trying to win the game which was excellent.
“They’re just bitterly disappointed about not having the three points because in the end, internally, we’re striving still to finish second.
“They (Jets) made a few chances (in the first half) but I still think we were comfortable that we could get back into the game and turn things around.”
