Western United denied in a cruel twist in A-League against Sydney FC despite heroics from goal keeper

You know it's a rough call when the opposition goal scorer, English striker Adam Le Fondre, labelled the decision "ridiculous" after the match, but admitted he would take it to secure his team's place in the finals.

The goal in the 76^th minute came about after a video referee decision decided that a ricochet handball was worthy of a penalty.

Sydney substitute Alex Baumjohann attempted to cross into the box but was blocked by United's Ivan Vujica. The ball ricocheted from his leg and onto his hand which was deemed justification enough to award Sydney FC a penalty.

"It's ridiculous. Obviously, I'll take it because it's a bit of a weird law but I didn't think it was a pen personally," Le Fondre told reporters after the match.

But in truth, it was a result which Sydney FC probably deserved having dominated the match from the outset.

In all, the visitors produced 27 shots on goal for the match, 12 on target, as opposed to a tired United, playing a third game in seven days - which included a midweek trip to Perth - who barely got out of a gallop all game.

It took the Sydney goal for United to show some flair, but they were denied the equaliser in the final few moments of the game.

It was the performance of Scott that kept United in the contest as Sydney cut through United's defence almost at will throughout the contest, but were continually denied by the goal keeper.

He made three incredible saves in the first 15 minutes, denying Kosta Barbarouses from point-blank range and Trent Buhagiar twice from inside the box.

The result leaves United eighth. It is just three points behind sixth position but goal difference and the fact that the three teams ahead of it, Brisbane, Adelaide and Western Sydney all have games in hand means it's unlikely to make finals.