A routine goal celebration cost Tomi Juric the right to play in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semi-final after the Western Sydney Wanderers striker received a one-match ban after being cautioned for making a minor gesture towards Guangzhou Evergrande supporters.
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Juric is one of three Wanderers suspended for the first leg clash away to FC Seoul as a result of accumulated yellow cards alongside striker Brendon Santalab and winger Shannon Cole. The second of two yellow cards in the knock-out stage that triggered the suspension for Juric has frustrated the club as his goal celebration – a finger raised to his lips – was deemed as inciting the crowd by referee Ryuji Sato.
Juric slotted the crucial penalty that sealed the Wanderers' progression on away goals at the expense of last year's champions, Guangzhou Evergrande. The striker celebrated as many often do when playing away from home by silencing the home crowd with the gesture of a finger pressed against the lip. Due to the already aggressive and hostile atmosphere within the stadium marked by fans throwing objects at the Wanderers, Sato ruled the context of Juric's gesture as sufficient enough to warrant a caution.
"It was in the heat of the moment and it's unfortunate. I don't even know what the referee gave the yellow card for because Tomi was just doing a normal celebration and he [the referee] has given him a yellow card. It's unfortunate that in the same game Tomi and I get a yellow, but what can you do?" Santalab said.
The suspension of the Wanderers two regular centre-forwards, Juric and Santalab, will test the depth of the Wanderers attack in the early stages of their season as it will force a tactical readjustment for the first match of the tie in Seoul.
Santalab committed an illegal tackle before the referee allowed play to continue to allow an advantage for Guangzhou but was booked minutes later for his infringement. It was the second yellow card he received after being booked against Sanfrecce Hiroshima earlier in the knockout stages. His ban along with Juric's leaves the Wanderers without a recognised centre-forward for the first leg of the tie but Santalab is confident Mark Bridge or Labinot Haliti can deputise in a more advanced role.
"With Tomi and myself out, we still know we've got great cover up front. We've got [Mark] Bridge who's in good form, Labby [Haliti] who's in good form and other options on the wing. It's not good that Tomi and I are both suspended but I'm confident we can cover that in the first leg," Santalab said.
The Wanderers leave for Dubai on Sunday for a 10-day training camp where they will play up to two games against local teams in near 40 degree heat in preparation for their semi-final against South Korean giants FC Seoul.
"It will be great preparation for Seoul, the first leg and it will also benefit myself, Tomi and Shannon Cole who will be out but available for the second leg," Santalab said.
The Wanderers leave for Dubai on Sunday for a 10-day training camp where they will compete in the IPIC Tournament involving Bahrain club East Riffa and local giants Al Jazira who boast Mirko Vucinic and Argentine star Manuel Lanzini in their squad.
The A-League club will be treated as sporting royalty after being invited to train at the NAD Al Sheba Sport Complex owned by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan.
Use of the newly constructed venue is by invitation only and the Wanderers are the first Australian club to train at a venue frequently used by European giants such as Manchester United.
