A-League refereeing slammed after three controversial penalties awarded to Adelaide United against Central Coast Mariners

Kieran Francis

•
A-League refereeing slammed after three controversial penalties awarded to Adelaide United against Central Coast Mariners image

A-League refereeing is again under the microscope after three controversial penalties were awarded to Adelaide United in their 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners on Friday night.

Former Socceroos striker Tomi Juric scored a hat-trick - the first of his A-League career - from the penalty spot as the Reds came from behind to clinch a fortuitous three points at Coopers Stadium.

Top-of-the-table Mariners took an early lead in the 15th minute after Daniel De Silva nipped in to prod Jordan Elsey's under-hit backpass past Adelaide goalkeeper James Delianov.

MORE: The Australian Premier League? Perth Glory owner Tony Sage talks up A-League future | Former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski sets out on coaching crusade as he juggles Macarthur jobs

But the advantage lasted less than 20 minutes after Ruon Tongyik was adjudged by referee Adam Fielding to have brought down Reds captain Stefan Mauk in the box - with VAR intervening despite there appearing to be no contact between the two players.

Juric duly dispatched the first of his three spot kicks to equalise the match with the scoreline remaining deadlocked until the introduction of Mariners talent Alou Kuol in the second half.

The Sudanese-born forward brilliantly controlled a pass to lash a strike in off the post in the 63rd minute - his sixth goal of the season - to restore the Mariners advantage.

But there was more drama to come seven minutes later as Fielding ruled that Mariners substitute Josh Nisbett dragged down Mauk in the penalty box despite it appearing both players had arms linked with the Adelaide skipper falling of his own accord.

Juric again sent Mariners keeper Mark Birighetti the wrong way to tie the game at two-apiece.

Central Coast - the more dominant team in the match - continued to push forward to try to go ahead for a third time but incredibly another penalty in the 85th minute broke their hearts.

After a scramble in the six-yard box, Reds youngster Mohamed Toure throw a boot at the ball and it rebounded up to strike the outstretched arm of Mariners defender Kye Rowles from point-blank range.

While there was no doubt the ball struck Rowles' hand, the proximity of the deflection from Toure and question marks over whether the ball hit the defender's foot or head before striking the arm meant the decision by VAR to declare a 'clear and obvious' error was contentious after Fielding waved away initial penalty calls.

Sending the pro-Adelaide crowd delirious, Juric converted the winning goal from the penalty to complete his hat-trick and seal a controversial victory.

Football fans on Twitter seethed at the three penalty decisions by Fielding, who also sent off Rowles for dissent after the final whistle.

The Mariners remain in top spot on the A-League standings - four points ahead of Macarthur FC, who have a game in hand - while Adelaide have snuck into the top six.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.