Former Premier League star Adam Le Fondre missed TWO injury-time penalties as A-League side Sydney FC lost to NINE-MAN Wellington Phoenix in incredible scenes
- Adam Le Fondre had a night to forget when he missed two penalties in injury time
- The former Premier League star had a chance to save the game for Sydney FC
- However, he missed his first spot kick before being awarded a second
- But he blazed over the bar as nine-year-old Wellington Phoenix won the game
Sydney striker Adam Le Fondre missed two extra time penalties as nine-man Wellington Phoenix claimed a 1-0 A-League Men victory fraught with controversy.
Ufuk Talay’s side have not beaten Sydney since 2018 but the two men had to do so after Bozhidar Kraev (double booking) and Nicholas Pennington (violent conduct) were dismissed by referee Shaun Evans in the last 20 minutes in Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Sydney had a Rhyan Grant goal chalked off for offside with half an hour to go but they had two great chances to grab a draw in extra time.
Wellington defender Tim Payne was penalized for a handball but Le Fondre was denied from the spot by an Oli Sail save.
Just when Wellington thought the madness had subsided, Evans signaled he wanted to consult the VAR and on inspection found Wellington’s Callan Elliot had used his hand to keep a cross back into the box.
This time, however, there was no need for Sail as Le Fondre powered over the bar as Wellington hung on for a seismic victory.
Adam Le Fondre missed two penalties to throw away a golden opportunity to get a result
The former Premier League ace was tasked with rescuing a point for Sydney on Saturday
The loss for Steve Corica, who was involved in numerous touchline spats with former team-mate Talay, means his side have just one win in six games since their return to the Allianz Stadium.
Zawada scored the only goal of the game when Sydney itself went down to 10 men after Patrick Yazbek was taken off for a concussion test.
The Pole was played into the box by Clayton Lewis and after beating an onrushing Andrew Redmayne managed to put Wellington ahead.
Winger Robert Mak had two chances to level for Sydney, Wellington will feel they should have doubled their tally when Kraev failed to finish past Redmayne.
He missed his first penalty but was awarded a second thanks to VAR at the Allianz Stadium
But he blasted it over the bar, allowing nine-year-old Wellington Phoenix to seal a famous victory
Grant thought he had brought the Sky Blues back into the game after Le Fondre flicked in a cross, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised.
Sydney were given an avenue back into the game when Kraev was dismissed for clattering Mak and their luck continued when Pennington was shown a straight red for a challenge on Max Burgess with five minutes of regulation time left. the rest.
Evans drew just one yellow on Burgess and Sydney progressed.
Their entry into the box resulted in two Le Fondre penalties but when the Englishman couldn’t finish, Wellington continued.
