Fernando Romero ought to have been smiling at AAMI Park on Sunday after scoring his first A-League aim in Melbourne Victory’s 2-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners.
Nonetheless, the Paraguayan striker left the sphere in tears within the 66th minute after being despatched off for a foul on Mariners midfielder Max Balard.
And whereas his crimson card didn’t price the last-placed Victory a much-needed win, the 22-year-old marksman was a distraught determine within the dressing-room.
Initially proven a yellow card for his foul on Balard, Romero was left shattered after referee Jonathan Barreiro deemed the foul was worthy of on the spot dismissal after reviewing footage of the incident on the recommendation of the VAR
Whereas Romero made contact with the ball first, his studs then collected the calf of Balard as he adopted by means of.
Romero was consoled by the Mariners’ Brazilian pair Marco Tulio and Moresche as he left the sphere.
It wasn’t the one flashpoint of the second half, with Barreiro overturning his resolution to award the Mariners a penalty within the eightieth minute.
Tulio appeared to be introduced down from behind by Victory defenders Damien Da Silva and Roderick Miranda.
Nonetheless, after pointing to the spot, Barreiro was once more suggested by the VAR to assessment the footage.
The Mariners have been then left astounded – and maybe rightly so – when Barreiro modified his thoughts regardless of there being greater than sufficient proof to counsel a transparent and apparent error had not been made in his unique resolution to level to the spot for a penalty.
Tulio was subsequently booked for dissent because the Mariners once more got here up quick in Victoria, the place they haven’t received since 2014.
A bit of brilliance from Bruno Fornaroli gave the Victory the lead within the sixteenth minute.
Seeing goalkeeper Danny Vukovic off his line, the veteran marksman lobbed the Mariners gloveman with a intelligent strike from simply outdoors the Central Coast penalty to attain his sixth aim of the season.
The Mariners had an opportunity to equalise within the thirty fourth minute however Sam Silvera did not hit the goal after being arrange by Christian Theoharous.
Supplier Theoharous then had his personal alternative to degree scores in first-half stoppage time, however his shot skimmed the highest of the crossbar.
The Mariners continued to spurn probabilities, with substitute Moresche blowing a golden alternative early within the second half when he did not direct a header on the right track from shut vary.
Romero then doubled the Victory’s lead within the 56th minute when he was first to a close to publish cross from teammate Chris Ikonomidis.
Regardless of Romero’s dismissal 10 minute later, the Victory have been capable of maintain on with 10 males to win for simply the sixth time this season.
“It was a extremely mature efficiency,” Ikonomidis advised Community 10.
“We actually saved our heads robust there and held out for a very good win.”
