Suspension surprises Nix players
Wellington Phoenix players have expressed their bemusement after attacker Yan Sasse was slapped with a three-game suspension for serious foul play.
Sasse was red carded in the first half of their 1-1 draw with Adelaide United after he caught Javi Lopez on the ankle with his studs showing after losing his footing as he challenged for the ball.
The Phoenix have appealed the match review panel’s decision to ban Sasse for three games, hoping the punishment will be downgraded to just the one match, but they are not expecting to find out the outcome of their appeal until after their next game at home to Central Coast Mariners tomorrow.
Young midfielder Ben Old, who could benefit from Sasse’s suspension after coming off the bench in the season opener against Adelaide, said he was ‘‘very surprised’’ when he learned of the Brazilian’s hefty ban.
‘‘I was very surprised. I heard it was either going to be two or three games but I was expecting two because it wasn’t a malicious tackle or anything like that, it was just a slip,’’ Old said.
‘‘It was just unfortunate but hopefully with the appeal they can get it down to two games but am very surprised about it being three.’’
Phoenix fans did not get to see much of Sasse before his debut was cut short by his sending off but Old said he was an exciting addition to the squad and reminded him of the club’s former star Ulises Davila.
‘‘He’s been very good, especially for me. I’ve been able to learn so much from him. He reminds me of Ulises and he’s a player with a lot of flair and can impact the game.
‘‘It’s tough we’re going to lose him for the next few games but it just gives chances for other boys.’’
Sasse expressed his remorse on social media but defender Josh Laws said the new signing need not apologise as he did not believe there was any malice in the challenge.
‘‘He was gutted, especially as we’d been in pre-season for three months and had been working really hard up until the first game,’’ Laws said.
‘‘He’s a really good player on the ball as well and we missed that at times, although the boys who came on brought a lot of energy which really shows the depth we have in the squad.
‘‘We all got around him and he knows he’s slipped. It was nothing malicious. At the end of the day he’s unlucky.’’
Laws was one of three Phoenix players who protested referee Ben Abraham’s decision to send Sasse off.
He said he was hopeful the suspension would be reduced by at least one match following the appeal.
‘‘Fingers crossed. I’m wary of ever criticising the refs because it’s a difficult job to do. In the moment you have to make a quick decision.
‘‘ But it did look like he just slipped.’’ With Sasse unavailable, Old has put his hand up to start against the Mariners, who saw their first round game against Newcastle Jets called off after torrential rain flooded the pitch at Central Coast Stadium.
Alternatively, Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay may wish to bring striker Ben Waine into the starting XI after he scored their sole goal against Adelaide and drop Kosta Barbarouses back into an attacking midfield role.
‘‘If I’m starting this week that would be a great opportunity but if I’m on the bench again that’s all right. Hopefully I can just get on the pitch and change the game,’’ Old said.