Sydney FC have thrown away the chance to entrench themselves in the top four of the National Youth League with one round remaining in the home and away campaign following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Adelaide United at Cromer Park on Saturday afternoon.
Steve O-Connor-s squad looked odds-on to pick up a much-needed three points after a brace from Iain Ramsay and Joel Chianese in the first stanza but conceded two goals in the final 13 minutes to drop to fifth after Gold Coast United thrashed the AIS 5-0.
A controversial red card shown to Sky Blues substitute Dimitrios Petratos just after the hour mark appeared to be harsh, and was the talking point at fulltime.
It gave the second placed Reds a new lease of life which they badly needed.
Petratos was given an early shower after referee Kris Griffiths-Jones felt he raised his studs with intent after contesting a bouncing ball with Adelaide-s Dane Milovanovic.
The Reds bench and Milovanovic reacted to the challenge, and it appeared to have the desired effect on Griffith-Jones- thought process.
Goal-poacher Francesco Monterosso yet again etched his name on the scoresheet after latching onto a flick on from Lloyd Owusu to open the scoring before a Sydney blitzkrieg.
That all changed once Adelaide had a numerical advantage.
Milovanovic pegged one goal back from the spot before Owusu squared proceedings with three minutes left on the clock, beating Sam Gallagher at the far post before directing his header past Sydney custodian Nenad Vekic.
An irate O-Connor questioned the standard of refereeing when asked his thoughts on the contest.
“The send off changed everything, it was a terrible decision…he (Petratos) was just trying to control the ball,– he said.
“We then fell in a hole and began to panic. It is very disappointing, we played well and were cruising.”
“It makes the task (of making the semi-finals) that much harder.”
“We just have to regroup and get ready for the Central Coast Mariners next week.”
Sydney FC 3 ( Ramsay (p) 26-, 28- Chianese 40-)
Adelaide United 3 (Monterosso 13- Milovanovic 77- (p ) Owusu 87-)
