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Helping Hand May Have Lifted Sydney to Final
March 14, 2010

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Sydney. Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix players defended Sydney striker Chris Payne on Sunday after he found himself at the center of a handball controversy following the A-League preliminary final.

Payne, 19, was criticized by Wellington coach Ricki Herbert after Sydney’s 4-2 win at Sydney Football Stadium. Payne came off the bench to score twice, helping his side into the grand final against Melbourne Victory.

The striker’s second goal, which put Sydney up 2-1, appeared to be scored off his forearm but was allowed to stand by referee Peter Green.

Herbert labeled the goal “three times worse” than other infamous handball incidents in football history, such as Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and Thierry Henry’s glove for France in last year’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

Herbert questioned Payne’s ethics and professionalism, but fellow players took a more understanding view. Strike partner Alex Brosque said the goal was accidental after Payne missed an attempted header.

“It definitely didn’t look like he intentionally did it,” Brosque said. “It’s just one of those things, and we still got a lot of other goals anyway.”

Wellington captain Andrew Durante said it was a “tough” call whether players had a duty to tell the referee the ball went into the net illegally.

“What’s he going to do, turn around and say, ‘No, don’t give the goal?’ I don’t think that’s ever happened in world football.”

After Payne’s first goal in the 21st, Durante leveled for Wellington in the 26th minute. Payne’s contentious second came in the 30th minute. Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge gave Sydney a 4-1 advantage before Eugene Dadi scored with nine minutes remaining for the Phoenix.



Associated Press