Wanderers midfielder Shinji Ono comes under challenge from Melbourne Victory's Billy Celeski. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE fact that life isn't fair is a lesson every child learns the hard way, and the A-League's fledgling club now knows just how bitter a taste that is.
Every portent was there for the Wanderers to secure an fourtth win of the season last night, but in the end all they were left with was a bloodied nose as Melbourne Victory earned their second remarkable triumph in Sydney inside a fortnight.
Facing 10 men and dominant for 75 minutes the Wanderers were left shellshocked - first by an own goal by captain Michael Beauchamp, and then a breakaway second for Archie Thompson.
"It's frustrating, we started so well and it was almost as if the worst thing that could happen to us was the sending off," said Wanderers coach Tony Popoivc.
"The players seemed stressed and nervous having the extra player, they tried to force things a bit too often.
"As we showed last week it's hard to play against 10 players, and the goal just before half time hurt us and gave
Victory something to hold on to. But overall we were pleased with how we moved the ball, it was just the final third. There we huffed and puffed without creating too much, it's a lesson we have to learn."
That was the brutal message of the night for the Wanderers, that no matter how good the approach play - and at times it was very slick - it means nothing without end product. The sending off came so early that a win for the home side seemed there for the taking.
Certainly it was the most contentious moment of the night, resulting in Victory's young defender Sam Gallagher seeing a red card after just 15 minutes.
There was little doubt that Gallagher fouled Kresinger as the Croatian forward strode clear just outside the box, but to most observers referee Ben Williams missed an equally clear foul first by Kresinger on Gallagher, who tried to keep his feet rather than go to ground.
The resultant freekick, dead centre and 22m out, was taken by Ono and driven a fraction wide - just before halftime he went close again, shaving the bar with another freekick. That came after a half of steadily building pressure from the home team, looking to turn the screw on the 10 men.
The football was wonderfully intelligent, pulling Victory from side to side with Aaron Mooy at the heart of it. The best chance came to Mark Bridge, heading into the ground from Mooy's perfect cross but seeing Coe tip it away to safety.
Victory were all about stemming the tide, until - with halftime moments away - they found a sucker punch. A half cleared corner allowed Gui Finkler space on the right of the box and his low centre was inadvertantly turned into the net by Beauchamp.
Stung, the Wanderers came racing out of the blocks for the second period, and should have had a penalty immediately when Adama Traore seemed to punch the ball clear above Kresinger's head, adding to a miserable weekend for A-League officials.
For Beauchamp, though, it would quickly turn into an equally horrible night. As the Wanderers pressed again the captain's careless pass on halfway allowed Marco Rojas the chance to streak away and roll the ball across the Wanderers box for Thompson to finish with aplomb.
To their great credit the Wanderers kept coming, kept trying to pass their way to parity. Bridge's shot was deflected just wide, then Trifiro had a golden opportunity that he volleyed just the wrong side of the post.
Jerome Polenz cut in from the right and let fly with a shot that Coe had to tip over, then at the death Bridge blazed over from just metres out. It was that kind of night.
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