Melbourne Victory head coach Grant Brebner has conceded that the challenge made by Rudy Gestede on Bernie Ibini cost his the game against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Victory were coming into the game following an infamously poor performance that saw Brisbane Roar put five goals past them, and the 43-year-old boss had insisted that a reaction from the players would be forthcoming.
For over 70 minutes, the defence held the fort and kept the scoreline goalless. But a clumsy challenge where Gestede went for the ball with his feet instead of his head cause his opposite number Ibini in the face, and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
The Wanderers’ midfielder Graham Dorrans stepped up and finished with aplomb to give the home side the lead, which was eventually doubled during the final minutes when striker Kwame Yeboah found the back of the net.
As Victory lick their wounds having won only one game in six so far this season, they remain stuck at the bottom of the A-League.
When quizzed as to how the issue would be addressed, Brebner told reporters: “Look, I’ll speak to him. But I think he knows. In the box, you don’t want to be making decisions like that.
“He’s an experienced player, and it’s cost us.”
Victory take on Wellington Phoenix in their next game at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium next Wednesday.
