Melbourne City will brace for a multi-week suspension for star winger Awer Mabil, who apologised to coach Aurelio Vidmar and his teammates for a brain-snap red card in a 2-1 win over Western Sydney.
City scored in the fourth minute through a wonderful goal from Brazilian midfield debutant Matheus Rossetto, before a terrific Nicolas Milanovic strike equalised in first-half injury time.
Andrew Nabbout put City ahead 2-1 in the 62nd minute at AAMI Park, but Mabil's red card three minutes later meant they had to defend while a man down for half-an-hour.
The Socceroo was bumped in the back by Dylan Scicluna then whipped around and swiped at the Wanderers midfielder's face.
"He's apologised to me, he's apologised to the group," Vidmar said.ย
"You can't have that type of ill-discipline in sport and especially in a team sport where you put the team in jeopardy.
"He knows he put the team in jeopardy, so he's apologised .... we have to move on."
When asked about the suspension length, Vidmar quipped: "No, we're going to play him in the local NPL team and serve the suspension."
Vidmar was referencing Auckland striker Sam Cosgrove being able to serve a two-match red card suspension from an August 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup match in New Zealand National League reserve fixtures, allowing him to face City in the season opener.
It wasn't the end of the drama.
Wanderers star Nicolas Milanovic thought he'd equalised with a powerful header in the 91st minute, but after a lengthy VAR review, the star attacker was deemed to have been offside and City held on.
A week after Talay fumed at a goal being disallowed by VAR against Macarthur, he was calmer about the offside call.
"Look, offside is black-and-white," Talay said.
"Last week, I don't believe it was black-and-white - even the footage that we just got from the head of the referees, for me it doesn't seem black-and-white either.ย
"Regardless of it being a goal or not being a goal, I've lost my trust in that space anyway, so it doesn't really matter."
Vidmar said he'd initially thought it was a goal while skipper Aziz Behich said he was "pretty confident it was offside" as Milanovic had started in an offside position and City's defensive line was strong.
Western Sydney were on top but couldn't make their dominance count on the scoreboard, with keeper James Niewenhuizen terrific.
But City were relieved when Milanovic's would-be equaliser was chalked off, with Vidmar hailing a "gutsy, courageous win".
Bizarrely, play was stopped in the 16th minute as an unauthorised drone was flying over AAMI Park, leaving both coaches bemused.
City head into the international break on a two-game winning run.
