Western Sydney Wanderers are one of only two teams to stay undefeated after six rounds following their 1-1 draw with Melbourne City on Sunday night.
Jaushua Sotirio’s goal in the 19th minute gave the visitors the early lead but VAR drama was central to the scoreline in the second half in a decision surrounding a penalty, giving Melbourne City the platform to level the game and share the points.
Despite taking several restless minutes to finalise an outcome, recent criticisms of the VAR may be silenced for a week after it eventually made the correct decision give City a spot-kick.
Melbourne’s Osama Malik was felled in the area by Wanderers’ full-back Raul Llorente but referee Jonathan Barreiro let the decision go and was forced to consult video officials after strong protestations by City personnel.
Ross McCormack converted in the 55th minute.
Melbourne City will be frustrated with the result after an exhilarating second half saw them manufacture numerous gilt-edged chances to get the go-ahead score but a combination of poor finishing and sharp shot-stopping from Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic means City only have one point from their last two home games.
City created a host of opportunities in the first half; Iacopo La Rocca’s header was whipped over the bar, Bruce Kamau played McCormack into a one-on-one with Janjetovic who made himself big and saved with his feet.
City’s attacking flow was disrupted when a defensive error put them a goal down. Malik was dispossessed easily by Oriol Riera on the edge of his defensive penalty box, Raul Llorente shaped a cross for Sotirio to shoot and score off a rebound off the woodwork.
Malik’s confidence took a hit after that with poorly placed passes and needless offences, but City responded well when Nick Fitzgerald created a great chance bursting down the left, his shot again saved by Janjetovic to his left.
The Wanderers goalkeeper was called into action before the break to save a McCormack free kick on the edge of the area; the shot was laced with power and accuracy and was headed into the top left corner.
Melbourne’s equaliser ten minutes after the resumption of play via the VAR incident. McCormack converted coolly into the right side of the goal to level the game.
Chances for both sides came billowing in and half-time substitute Marcelo Carrusca had a quick impact. The Argentine fed Kamau into the right channel and found Fitzgerald central but the 25-year-old’s shot deflected out.
Sotirio had a golden chance down the other end when space opened up for a shot in the area yet Galekovic needed only make a routine save.
It was tricker for Janjetovic on the immediate counter attack; the shot-stopper stood his ground when McCormack’s header was saved point-blank after a sharp Scott Jamieson cross.
City finished the game strongly but weren’t able to score from any of their promising opportunities.
Melbourne City 1 (McCormack 55′)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Sotirio 19′)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Jonathan BARREIRO
Assistant Referees: Ashley BEECHAM & Daniel Ilievski
Fourth Official: Stephen LUCAS
VAR: Kris GRIFFITHS-JONES
Melbourne City
18. GALEKOVIC Eugene (GK), 2. MUSCAT Manny, 3. Scott JAMIESON, 5. SCHENKEVELD Bart, 6. MALIK Osama, 7. FITZGERALD Nick, 11. KAMAU Bruce (27. BUDZINSKI Marcin 71′), 13. MAUK Stefan (9. CARRUSCA Marcelo 46′), 22. JAKOBSEN Michael (c), 25. LA ROCCA Iacopo, 44. McCORMACK Ross
Unused substitutes: 1. BOUZANIS Dean (GK), 8. KILKENNY Neil, 26. BRATTAN Luke,
Western Sydney Wanderers
20. JANJETOVIC Vedran, 5. HAMILL Brendan, 8. BONEVACIA Roly, 9. RIERA Oriol (11. SANTALAB Brendan 77′), 14. KUSUKAMI Jumpei (10. CEJUDO Alvaro 60′), 15. BACCUS Kearyn, 16. SOTIRIO Jaushua, 18. CORNTHWAITE Robbie (c), 24. LLORENTE Raul, 33. THWAITE Michael
Unused substitutes: 30. HALL John (GK), 22. ASPROPOTAMITIS Jonathan, 42. BACCUS Keanu
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