Referee misses blatant handball in Wellington Phoenix’s defeat to Brisbane Roar

At Perry Park, Brisbane: Brisbane Roar 2 (Tameka Yallop 34’, Kijah Stephenson 46’) Wellington Phoenix 1 (Isabel Cox 20’) HT: 1-1

Wellington Phoenix will feel robbed after a stonewall penalty was not given late in their controversial 2-1 defeat to Brisbane Roar in the A-League Women.

The outstretched arm of defender Leah Scarpelli came to Brisbane’s rescue when new signing Isabel Cox looked destined to score a 86th minute equaliser.

The Phoenix should have been given a penalty after Scarpelli blocked Cox’s on-target shot with her arm.

However, the blatant handball was completely missed by referee Caitlin Williams and there was no Video Assistant Referee in the A-League Women to correct the decision when appeals from the Phoenix players were ignored by the official.

The handball controversy capped off a miserable night for the Phoenix at Brisbane’s Perry Park after a shocking mistake from goalkeeper Rylee Foster handed the Roar their first goal.

The Phoenix broke the early deadlock when Cox headed home from point-blank range following a Michaela Foster corner delivery.

But Brisbane were handed a way back into the game when Foster panicked on the ball while trying to play out from the back.

She needlessly coughed up possession and Brisbane’s Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop did not need a second invitation, and lobbed the ball back over Foster’s head to level the score in the 34th minute.

Brisbane hit the front 20 seconds into the second half when winger Sharn Freier got on the outside of Phoenix right back Hailey Davidson.

Frier – who had been a threat all match – squared a ball across the face of goal and Kijah Stephenson ran through to score.

Substitute Michaela Robertson should have equalised for the Phoenix before the handball controversy when she was played in behind by Alyssa Whinham.

But the winger tried to pick out the bottom left corner from the right and fluffed her finish, hooking the ball wide.

The Phoenix have now lost back-to-back games and four in a row on the road.

The nature of Sunday’s defeat will only hurt more.