Soccer: Phoenix fume over hand-ball goal

Wellington’s travelling fans were left deflated after last night’s controversial loss to Sydney FC. Photo / Getty Images

Ricki Herbert had no difficulty pointing to the critical moment in last night's 4-2 defeat to Sydney that saw his side's season finish one game short of the grand final.

"It was a dreadful call," Herbert said of the decision to allow Chris Payne's second goal which was clearly guided in by his arm.

"Forget the France game [when Thierry Henry handled the ball against Ireland to get them to the World Cup], this one was twice as bad. We all play under the banner of Fifa fair play and this one doesn't stack up for us.

"A goal like that sinks everyone but at the end of the day, we shouldn't have had to deal with that."

Wellington captain Andrew Durante was livid after the goal was awarded. He was standing less than a metre from Payne and immediately remonstrated with referee Peter Grant.

"The referee said it was ball to hand rather than hand to ball and let it stand," Durante said. "The linesman said he didn't see it. It's really hard to take."

What makes it more difficult is the fact last night signalled the end of Wellington's season. It was at times brilliant, especially in the final weeks, as they went on a run of five straight wins and excited a New Zealand public not normally energised by football.

"I'm tremendously proud of the group, the players, the supporters," said Herbert, who hasn't been shy in reminding people that most Australian pundits picked the Phoenix as pre-season favourites for the wooden spoon. "We have made a really big difference to the league."

That was no better illustrated by the fact only 13,000 turned up to the Sydney Football Stadium last night, including about 400 travelling Phoenix fans. If the game had been played in Wellington last night, it would have been another sellout.

It seems incredible some, including the Asian Football Confederation boss, want to extinguish the Phoenix, who are chasing a new 10-year licence. Oceania officials will press their case in Zurich next weekend but the final outcome is anyone's guess.

They will at least be around next season and striker Chris Greenacre said they now know what it takes to make a grand final after coming so close.

"We know what we have to do and know we are good enough to compete at this level, despite what everyone says," he said. "Hopefully it can be our year next year.

"It's been fantastic. It's a great time to be [playing in New Zealand].

"If I had known this was going to happen, I would have tried to get here earlier, with the All Whites getting to the World Cup and what we have done.

"Hopefully this is the start of something special. We want to be one of those teams that are going to be there or thereabouts every year."