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Jan 26, 2018   |  11:49AM AET

Muscat: Big moments went against us

Muscat: Big moments went against us

Melbourne Victory head coach Kevin Muscat felt the big moments went against his team in its 3-1 loss to Sydney FC on Friday.

After going ahead through a Besart Berisha penalty at AAMI Park, Victory was beaten as Bobo scored a brace and David Carney sealed the result for the Sky Blues.

Victory was also reduced to 10 men in the second half as Jason Geria was sent off.

At a post-match media conference, Muscat was asked about his team’s performance and the injury that saw star attacker Leroy George miss the Australia Day clash.

On the game…
“They’re a decent team. I thought it was an even contest, very even contest, and I thought for long parts of that first half, especially the beginning, 15-20 minutes, we showed a great deal of commitment and desire and forced them to play in their own half and forced them into areas. There wasn’t an abundance of chances, it was a very good game of football, tight game of football, then obviously when we go ahead, at that point I don’t think anyone would say we didn’t deserve our lead. We deserved to go ahead, it was good football, good movement by Jai (Ingham) and a nice ball played in by Jimmy (Troisi).

“Then, that main moment there, two minutes after we score, was a big moment in the game. In the end, they get down our right-hand side and it’s a good cross and a good goal but it was very easily defendable. Goal-kick that (Alex) Brosque is allowed to bring down 15-20 yards in our half, that was a big moment, and brings them on even terms and then you get a penalty against you and a red card so there were moments in the game that ultimately dictated the result, but we gave as good as we got and if anything, once we took the lead, I don’t think you could argue that we didn’t deserve it.”

on giving up a lead…
“There are areas we need to get better at. I don’t know about the other games (against Sydney), but that concentration when we go 1-0 up, we obviously need to work on.”

on Adrian Mierzejewski’s foul on Rhys Williams…
“They (VAR) can only intervene if they think it’s a direct red. You’ve made contact with your elbow so if it’s not a direct red, surely it’s a yellow card and he’s already on a yellow card so another big moment. When you’re on top of the table, the big decisions tend to go for you.”

on George’s injury…
“I think he’ll be fine for next week. He’ll be fine. He’s trained well the last couple of days, but it was just a little bit too soon.”