Referee Josh Mannella’s controversial injury time decision to award Perth RedStar a penalty cost Perth SC the game and perhaps a top four finish at Dorrien Gardens yesterday.
RedStar striker Daryl Nicol converted from the spot to give the visitors a 2-1 victory after it seemed Mannella had been deceived by a falling Matt George.
Azzurri keeper Mateusz Zaniewski, whose string of saves had kept Perth SC in the game, came out to close down George, who was forced wide with a heavy first touch and then went to ground, seemingly with no contact from Zaniewski.
But Mannella awarded the penalty, much to the despair of the Azzurri faithful, and then gave Zaniewski a red card after the final whistle for questioning the decision.
It was shades of Perth SC’s contest with Bayswater City at Dorrien Gardens in May, when the home side was once again on the wrong side of a critical decision from Mannella and he dismissed Sam Riak after the match.
The loss means Perth SC are now seven points behind fourth placed RedStar with five games remaining, putting a significant dent in the Azzurri’s hopes of finishing in the top four this season.
It also meant the Azzurri slipped down to sixth position on the NPLM ladder after Stirling Macedonia’s win over Sorrento on Friday night.
The game started well for the Azzurri with Jackson Morgan heading the home side ahead in the 11th minute from Abdul Osman’s corner.
RedStar did have the better of the opportunities but could not get past the big Polish keeper in goal for the Azzurri, who pulled off some outstanding saves, until deep into the second half.
Sonny O’Shea equalised for the visitors in the 67th minute after being played in by George. His initial strike was blocked by Zaniewski but the Azzurri keeper could do nothing about his second shot from the rebound.
RedStar defender Dennis Galan was sent off 10 minutes later for an off the ball incident with Azzurri striker Gordon Perkins, but the home side could not take advantage of its numerical supremacy late in the game.
The deciding moment came in the 93rd minute, when Nicol got behind Riak after a long ball from RedStar keeper Liam Reddy.
Zaniewski saved well from Nicol’s strike but the rebound found its way to George and the rest was history.
To rub further salt into the wounds, Perth SC lost Morgan and Ethan Banks to injury in the first half, and started the match without skipper David Ninkovich, who was also injured.
The Azzurri will have to shake off the disappointment during the week and prepare for a visit to Nash Field on Saturday to take on Western Knights.