Adelaide United coach Michael Valkanis applauds his team after final whistle in the match against Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser
ADELAIDE United interim boss Mike Valkanis says a second place ending to the minor round is not impossible after a 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
Fourth-placed Adelaide is five points behind second-placed Central Coast Mariners.
It would need the Gosford-based club to drop points when it faces Brisbane Roar on Sunday to have any hope of reeling in a better play off position with finals football looming next month.
With Adelaide facing the Mariners at Hindmarsh on Sunday, March 24, a Roar upset could turn Valkanis' dream of getting a second chance during the play offs into reality.
But United would also need third-placed Melbourne Victory to capitulate in the remaining three home-and-away matches for the Victorians.
Adelaide at the very least has secured a home elimination final after the controversial draw.
The Jets opened the score via Michael Bridges a minute before the break before Marcelo Carrusca equalised with a world class goal in the 49th minute.
Adelaide United coach Michael Valkanis reacts as a goal was reversed by the referee in the match against Newcastle Jets. Picture: Sarah Reed.
Valkanis, however, remained remarkably calm when a Dario Vidosic stoppage time goal was flagged offside by referee's assistant Daniel Goodwin.
Vidosic was onside when he nailed the disallowed goal but whether Goodwin flagged for possibly Jeronimo Neumann being offside was inconclusive in replays.
"It's one of those moments when I'm glad I'm not a linesman or referee," Valkanis said.
"Look we were celebrating we thought we won the game.
"In the end and just looking at the replay I can't see where the offside and how it was offside but we can't do anything about that now that's been done.
"You go into our dressing room right now and the boys looked like they've lost the grand final and I'm trying to cheer them up because they're response in the second half was excellent."
Jets boss Gary van Egmond can also feel upset by some of the decisions at Hindmarsh but he too remained philosophical.
The Jets had two goals disallowed in the first half and a penalty claim not even considered by referee Lucien Laverdure in the second half.
"Look we can talk about that (the decisions) until the cows come home that's just football," van Egmond said.
"Look you know it's easy to criticise from the perspective of the performance of an official but they need as much support as we can give them.
"You know the game is becoming extremely professional, the game is becoming quicker every year, the referees probably just need to get more support.
"Maybe that's from a financial basis or whether that's from a development basis.
"We've lost a lot of very good referees of late and we just need to ensure that we can keep on making the position a position where referees want to stay and that's very important for our game.
"I've been in this (game) now for a while and I can tell you I used to be a real angry man, you do develop some patience."
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