A contentious goal midway through the second half stunted the Wollongong Wolves hopes of snatching a result at home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers on Sunday at WIN Stadium.
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Nick Olsen scored in the simplest fashion from close range in the 65th minute after the Tigers were handed a golden opportunity from what looked to eventuate from an offside play.
It gave the visiting Tigers a crucial 3-1 buffer with 25 minutes remaining.
The momentum killing goal came just 12 minutes after APIA had stolen back the advantage from a fortunate set piece which found its way to Nathan Millgate at the back post.
Scores were level at 1-1 at the break, but the Tigers were able to build their vital buffer early in the second half.
Wolves coach Jacob Timpano pin-pointed where the momentum changed.
”I would like to see the replay because for me it didn’t look like that third goal was offside,” he said.
“I thought we was off and from the looks of things so did most of the players.
“It put us in a difficult spot to chase the game after that.”
The match had been a fairly even affair in the opening half where the Wolves looked the more likely to score.
But it was APIA who hit the net first when Tasuku Sekiya was given fair too much space by Kota Kawase in the 40th minute.
The Wolves were deservedly level at half time but things turned pear shaped in the second half.
The loss sees them drop to 10th on the ladder on 13 competition points, four points clear of the last placed Blacktown Spartans.