Despite controlling one of the most one-sided matches you will see this season, Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen victim to Brisbane Roar after being robbed of a legitimate goal and then hit with a sucker-punch.
Despite one of the most one-sided matches you will see this season, Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen victim to Brisbane Roar after being robbed of a legitimate goal and then hit with a sucker-punch.
The Red & Black were the dominant side in the opening 65 minutes at Marconi Stadium but only had themselves to blame up to that point due to a smorgasbord of mixed chances but were left reeling after the referee inexplicably denied Keelin Winters the opening goal of the game.
US international Winters had finished off a beautiful Wanderers move, slotting the ball in the bottom right hand corner before the referee called play back for a foul by a Roar player two passes before the goal, awarding a free kick to Wanderers at the edge of the box.
It was a mistake of the most outrageous variety and cost Wanderers the game as the Roar went straight up the pitch to capitalise on a defensive error to take the lead 1-0.
A few minutes later and the match was as good as over as the referee pointed to the spot after an innocuous looking challenge to hand Brisbane a two goal lead.
Having to push up field to get back into the game, the Roar punished the Wanderers by putting away their third goal in the 91st minute.
It was a cruel, frustrating and perplexing loss for the Red & Black who played their best football since formation in 2012 and should have had at least four goals of their own.
While it was a cruel defeat, Western Sydney will still have to do some soul searching to ensure that they take their chances in the future and rub out any possibility of an opposition fight back.
Next up for the Wanderers is the Sydney Derby at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday: the first match in a double header which also includes the men playing against Perth.
