Latest news with #Corica
1News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
'They got it wrong' : Auckland FC coach goes after refs after loss
The dream season is over. And the coach is fuming. But Auckland FC could not stop Melbourne Victory when it mattered most. Victory's 2-0 win at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday sealed an A-League Grand Final spot with a 2-1 aggregate score across the home and away semi-finals series. The shock result of the fifth-placed side toppling the Premiers Plate winners ended a barely believable run for an expansion club. It was a result that Auckland FC coach Steve Corica had questions about. Auckland took a one-goal advantage into the second semi-final at home, needing a win or a draw to continue making history in their inaugural season. ADVERTISEMENT After a goalless first half that ended with rising tempers, Victory scored first in the 54th minute to level the aggregate score and scored again in the 60th minute to take the lead and put the pressure on the hosts. Auckland could not respond, despite the support of a crowd of 29,148 fans. Corica said he believed a disallowed goal of Auckland's near the 70th minute mark was a turning point for his side. The ball was ruled by VAR to have gone out of the field of play before going into the goal. "The referees made a bad decision, the linesman has, and so has the VAR, whoever is in charge up there, because that would have obviously helped us get back into the game. "It wasn't our day, we had a few half chances, but it just wasn't falling for us. "We switched off a couple of times and let them get into the lead, but for me, we weren't given the opportunities to get back into the game because of that decision as well." Corica said he did not want an apology, like had been proffered for incorrect calls during the season. ADVERTISEMENT "I want the right decision to be made, and my opinion is they got it wrong, and that could have cost us getting back into the game for one and getting into a final. "You're talking about a big decision there, so you would hope they get it right, but I don't think so," he said. Victorious coach Arthur Diles said he believed things evened out across the season. "Over the course of a year, your luck comes and goes and come the end of the season it normally balances itself out, because there's been many games this year that we should have won and we didn't, we've been unlucky, but in the end you can talk about referees decisions, you can talk about luck bad luck or good luck but in the end of the season it normally pans out and it evens itself out."
The Star
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Coach Corica rails at officials as Auckland miss out on Grand Final
(Reuters) -Auckland FC coach Steve Corica criticised officials after missing out on a place in the A-League Grand Final as Saturday's 2-0 loss against Melbourne Victory denied the New Zealanders a season-ending clash against Melbourne City next week. Goals from Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli saw Victory overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to allow Arthur Diles' side to set up an all-Melbourne final while Corica fumed over a disallowed effort from Logan Rogerson with 21 minutes remaining. "I don't want an apology, I want the right decision to be made," said Corica, who led A-League debutantes Auckland to the Premiership title. "My opinion is they got it wrong and that could have cost us getting back into the game, for one, and getting into a final. "You're talking about big decisions so you would hope they would get it right but I don't think so." Auckland were trailing 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate when Rogerson headed in from close range after Guillermo May had crossed from the byeline, momentarily believing he had pulled his side level overall. But officials ruled the ball had gone out of play before swinging back in prior to Rogerson making contact to leave the New Zealand international with his head in his hands and the 30,000 crowd booing the officials in anger. "The atmosphere was amazing here again, they've been sensational here all year, the supporters, and we appreciate that," said Corica. "I'm probably more disappointed for them. "I think they've been the best crowd all season, they've turned up every week in really good numbers and it's disappointing that they don't get to host a Grand Final next week because of poor refereeing decisions." Victory coach Diles claimed not to have seen the incident and was instead preparing himself for a meeting with crosstown rivals Melbourne City in the Grand Final. "It's a great moment for us as a football club, something we've worked really hard for and you get a reward tonight off the back of that," he said. "It was beautiful to play in front of 30,000 fans tonight. It was even nicer to spoil the party." (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Coach Corica rails at officials as Auckland miss out on Grand Final
Coach Corica rails at officials as Auckland miss out on Grand Final Auckland FC coach Steve Corica criticised officials after missing out on a place in the A-League Grand Final as Saturday's 2-0 loss against Melbourne Victory denied the New Zealanders a season-ending clash against Melbourne City next week. Goals from Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli saw Victory overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to allow Arthur Diles' side to set up an all-Melbourne final while Corica fumed over a disallowed effort from Logan Rogerson with 21 minutes remaining. "I don't want an apology, I want the right decision to be made," said Corica, who led A-League debutantes Auckland to the Premiership title. "My opinion is they got it wrong and that could have cost us getting back into the game, for one, and getting into a final. "You're talking about big decisions so you would hope they would get it right but I don't think so." Auckland were trailing 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate when Rogerson headed in from close range after Guillermo May had crossed from the byeline, momentarily believing he had pulled his side level overall. But officials ruled the ball had gone out of play before swinging back in prior to Rogerson making contact to leave the New Zealand international with his head in his hands and the 30,000 crowd booing the officials in anger. "The atmosphere was amazing here again, they've been sensational here all year, the supporters, and we appreciate that," said Corica. "I'm probably more disappointed for them. "I think they've been the best crowd all season, they've turned up every week in really good numbers and it's disappointing that they don't get to host a Grand Final next week because of poor refereeing decisions." Victory coach Diles claimed not to have seen the incident and was instead preparing himself for a meeting with crosstown rivals Melbourne City in the Grand Final. "It's a great moment for us as a football club, something we've worked really hard for and you get a reward tonight off the back of that," he said. "It was beautiful to play in front of 30,000 fans tonight. It was even nicer to spoil the party." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Coach Corica rails at officials as Auckland miss out on Grand Final
May 25 - Auckland FC coach Steve Corica criticised officials after missing out on a place in the A-League Grand Final as Saturday's 2-0 loss against Melbourne Victory denied the New Zealanders a season-ending clash against Melbourne City next week. Goals from Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli saw Victory overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to allow Arthur Diles' side to set up an all-Melbourne final while Corica fumed over a disallowed effort from Logan Rogerson with 21 minutes remaining. "I don't want an apology, I want the right decision to be made," said Corica, who led A-League debutantes Auckland to the Premiership title. "My opinion is they got it wrong and that could have cost us getting back into the game, for one, and getting into a final. "You're talking about big decisions so you would hope they would get it right but I don't think so." Auckland were trailing 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate when Rogerson headed in from close range after Guillermo May had crossed from the byeline, momentarily believing he had pulled his side level overall. But officials ruled the ball had gone out of play before swinging back in prior to Rogerson making contact to leave the New Zealand international with his head in his hands and the 30,000 crowd booing the officials in anger. "The atmosphere was amazing here again, they've been sensational here all year, the supporters, and we appreciate that," said Corica. "I'm probably more disappointed for them. "I think they've been the best crowd all season, they've turned up every week in really good numbers and it's disappointing that they don't get to host a Grand Final next week because of poor refereeing decisions." Victory coach Diles claimed not to have seen the incident and was instead preparing himself for a meeting with crosstown rivals Melbourne City in the Grand Final. "It's a great moment for us as a football club, something we've worked really hard for and you get a reward tonight off the back of that," he said. "It was beautiful to play in front of 30,000 fans tonight. It was even nicer to spoil the party."
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Auckland FC vs Melbourne Victory: Auckland coach Steve Corica fumes over controversial decision to disallow goal in A-League semi final
'It wasn't our day. We had a few half chances, but it just wasn't falling for us, and we switched off a couple of times to let them get into the lead but we weren't given the opportunity to get back into the game because of that decision as well.' After the game Corica said he was yet to speak to referee Alex King – and doubted that he would. 'I don't want an apology,' said Corica. 'I want the right decision to be made. In my opinion they got it wrong and that could have cost us, getting back into the game and getting into a final. You're talking about big decisions there, so you would hope they get it right.' It was a flashpoint – and a debatable call – especially as Robinson made the judgement from the far sideline. But Auckland had also sowed the seeds of their downfall with a passive approach. They played without luck, as the wicked curling deflection for Melbourne's first goal in the 55th minute, from a hopeful shot from Zinedine Machach, was a bizarre way to concede. But they also seemed to be caught in two minds, perhaps aware of their 1-0 advantage from the first leg. In front of an expectant home crowd, they took time to settle and struggled to assert control, with too many players below their best. They were also – as Corica admitted – caught out by Melbourne's switch in formation to a back three, which shut down the Auckland attack and offered more space in wide areas. 'We weren't expecting that,' said Corica. 'It took us a little bit of time to get used to.' The coach admitted that Auckland was edged in the physical battle, with the visitors sharper to respond. 'We were a little bit slow to second balls,' said Corica. 'In Melbourne we were winning all these challenges, [on Saturday] we were probably a little bit off in that department. Maybe that cost us.' Bruno Fornaroli's 60th minute strike was the killer blow, sucking the energy out the stadium. Auckland tried to respond but couldn't create too much, against the resolute Victory defence. But there was almost the ultimate late finale, with Nando Pijnaker's 98th minute shot from close range cleared off the line, after Victory keeper Jack Duncan had spilled a cross. 'This season we've scored late goals and it's just unfortunate that it didn't happen as that would have brought the roof down,' said Corica. 'Little chances like that. You think you got an open goal, but there was someone there to clear it.' Melbourne Victory will now face Melbourne City in the A-League grand final, next Saturday.
