‘Why does VAR even step in?’: Stoppage time chaos as late goals spark wild scenes in tense draw

VAR official Kris Griffiths Jones and Adelaide substitute Archie Goodwin were the central figures in a dramatic second half when VAR intervened to allow both Auckland and Adelaide to score a goal apiece in a game that finished in extraordinary fashion with both sides scoring in stoppage time to force a 2-2 draw.

Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

Adelaide believed that Auckland substitute Neyder Moreno had handled the ball before he drove home to put the Kiwis in front with 24 minutes to go but replays showed that the ball had struck an Adelaide defender before falling into Moreno’s path.

Auckland was then convinced that Adelaide substitute Yaya Dukuly had pulled the shirt of their defender Callan Elliot before accelerating past and delivering a cross for Archie Goodwin to equalise.

But there was no disputing Goodwin’s second when he swept home in the 95th minute, only for Logan Rogerson to equalise with a header from a corner in the 100th minute.

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart was mystified by VAR’s intervention for Goodwin’s first goal.

“I found it interesting how VAR can step in there with the referee and the linesmen there?” Veart said.

“Was that a clear and obvious foul? Why does VAR even step in there?

“If you’re going to pay that, then I think you’re going to have 20 penalties every time there’s a corner because there’s more shirt pulling, there’s more blocking than that.”

Veart was also perplexed by VAR stopping the game to review Auckland’s opening goal via Colombian Neyder Moreno in the 67th minute.

Referee King delayed the restart before Moreno’s goal was given.

“There was no issue for that goal and that should have been done very quickly,’’ Veart said.

However Auckland coach Steve Corica disagreed with Veart’s analysis of Goodwin’s first goal before the striker scored a second.

“I think Callum (Elliot) was in front of the boy (Dukuly), there was no reason for him to go down, fall over, he was in front’’ Corica said.

“So, there was a bit of a pull on the shirt and maybe a little clip.

“Obviously, VAR looked at it and to me that shouldn’t have been a goal.

“(We) probably could have gone close to winning the game.

“The second (Goodwin) goal was a good one from them.

“I think in the end with the late goal, we’re happy with the point here.

“They’re a good team coached by Carl (Veart).”

The point apiece means Adelaide stay top of the table with Auckland second.

DEFENCES ON TOP IN FIRST HALF STALEMATE

Midfield space was at a premium as both teams pressed high, worked hard and closed down their opponents tenaciously, ensuring neither side had many clear cut chances to break the deadlock in what quickly settled into a gritty arm wrestle.

Adelaide had scored nine goals in the first half-hour of previous matches this season, but rarely troubled Alex Paulsen in the Auckland goal while the visitors, whose success in their first season has been built on their ability to shut out teams, gave Adelaide’s inexperienced goalkeeper Ethan Cox few problems.

THE ARM WRESTLE CONTINUES

The Kiwis began to show more attacking intent in the opening minutes of the second half and Cox, deputising for the injured James Delianov for the second match in a row, was forced to save athletically from a Nando Pijnaker header after Auckland forced the first of two successive corners.

But for the most part the rhythm and tempo of this match remained the same – plenty of grunt, effort and commitment, but little in the way of incisive or creative play.

INSPIRED SUBSTITUTIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN AMAZING FINALE

Corica rung the changes with some 25 minutes remaining and it was two subs, Neyder Moreno for Auckand and Yaya Dukuly that made the difference, Moreno scoring for the visitors, Dukuly creating the leveller for the hosts as they pressed hard not just for an equaliser but then for a late winner.

That looked like it had come when Goodwin added to his tally in stoppage time only for the hosts joy to be dashed in amazing style when Rogerson grabbed a precious point for the visitors.

Although Veart’s side remained top of the A-League table the Reds boss said Adelaide failed to stick to its game plan.

The newest A-League side’s resilience saw Logan Rogerson equalise with an unchallenged header from a set piece in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

“Unfortunately, we played more of their brand of football, than our brand of football,’’ Veart said.

“We made it too much of a contest all night.

“They put lots of pressure on you all over the pitch.

“We played two extra minutes (of stoppage time), and I don’t know where that came from.“

— NCA NewsWire