The Brisbane Roar were left disappointed on Friday night after a frustrating 1-2 loss at home has continued their misfortune this season.
The Roar had a stellar beginning to the match as Carlo Armiento was creating some great chances early on, although it was the Mariners that spoke first.
A corner from Central Coast’s James McGarry was sent to the goal area where players scrambled for a touch, but it was the work of Marco Tulio getting the ball to the roof of the net that got Mariners on the scoreboard in the 19th minute.
Just moments later, Jay O’Shea put the ball in after a free-kick and goal scorer Tulio took Carlo Armiento out onthe ball to give away a penalty to the Roar.
O’Shea stepped up for the penalty and calmly dispatched the ball into the bottom left of the goal to equalise the match 1-1.
In the 33rd minute, a cross from Beni Nkololo into the goal area took a touch off Tulio for Jason Cummings to take a shot that hit the left post for a missed opportunity.
The 39th minute saw a promising counterattack by the Roar where Henry Hore put a ball through to Nikola Mileusnic who crossed it into the goal area, finding no players there for the tap-in.
After the break, both teams were looking scrappy and were struggling to find goals which reflected the five yellow cards all given out in the second half.
A controversial penalty call was given to the Mariners after Scott Neville was believed to have clipped the back of Daniel Hall’s ankles in the box.
Nkololo converted this penalty to the bottom right of goal to present Central Coast with the 2-1 lead in the 69th minute.
All eyes were on new recruit Stefan Scepovic who made his debut in the 75th minute which saw great movement and positioning from the striker, sure to make a difference in upcoming matches.
In hopes of creating a late chance in stoppage time, Scepovic executed a great cross into the goal area but without anyone there to finish, it was time to accept the loss as the full-time whistle blew.
Captain Brisbane Roar Tom Aldred believes the Neville challenge was not a penalty and said calls like these kill the momentum in the game.
“It’s just so frustrating, it’s not going for us at the minute,” Aldred said.
“I feel like we’re in all the games, but all the results are going against us lately, and we’re getting punished for an error and today, a referee decision.”
Brisbane Roar Head Coach Warren Moon is not feeling discouraged and is motivated for his squad to attain points in the coming games to find themselves in the top six.
“We’ve lost the game at home; we haven’t picked up points. I’m not going to look at the excuses or decisions,” Moon said.
“The decisions have been made now and last few weeks, we have to cop it and find ways and solutions to overcome those moments and we didn’t tonight.”
Brisbane Roar have not won in seven consecutive games now, but Irishman Jay O’Shea believes the ladder is tight enough that a couple of wins in a row can get the side in a better position.
“If it is [a penalty] or not we still have to try win the game, we’re at home and we should be the ones with the ascendency,” O’Shea said.
The Roar face Sydney FC next Saturday away at Allianz Stadium in Round 17.
“The lads will fit in; they’re going to have a full training week before the next game so hopefully they gel in nicely and get them to hit the ground running,” O’Shea said.
