The crowd was surprisingly large given that Canberra had lost 4 in a row and their last home game was witnessed by only 100 more - in fine weather! This was certainly not good weather - it rained throughout - just as it has almost continuously in Canberra for the last three days!
Great to see around 150 vocal Spirit fans there to support their team - they will have an enjoyable trip home.
This was a very even game punctuated by two bad defensive errors (by the Cosmos) and one dreadful refereeing (and linesman decision). Each resulted in a goal to the visitors.
Perinch broke through in only the second minute but Cosmos keeper No. 2 keeper Angelo Konstantinou stayed near his line allowing the former Wollongong sharp shooter to pick his spot.
Polak pulled the home side level just after half time when he was played through on the left and tucked the ball past the advancing Perosh.
Canberra was looking the better side for quite some time and playing the ball around nicely, but never looked like scoring once a limping Daniel Watkins, who ran his heart out against his former club (and some would say current club, as he is on loan for the season) limped off.
This game could have gone either way until Gonzales failed to clear a ball on the edge of the area. From where I was the ball was played through by a Spirit player (and not Gonzales) past the diving Konstantinou to Perinch who would have been 4 metres offside at least to tap in to an empty net.
The referee looked at the linesman, but the linesman seemed to have been more concerned with his progress down the damp line than to do his job. The goal stood despite Cosmos protests. This goal would not have been allowed in most junior games - and by inexperienced young officials.
The final nail was another self inflicted one - Konstantinou allowing a harmless lobbed ball to slip through his grasp, off his chest and straight into the path of a surprised but grateful Bingley who could have had one of those famous North Sydney Oval steak sandwiches while sealing victory.
I hope Spirit can kick on from here and bring the crowds back to NSO.