Harry Ngata: Hand-ball goal didn't change outcome

Sydney FC substitute Chris Payne’s (C) second goal clearly came off his arm but was missed by the officials. Photo / Getty Images

Diego Maradonna's infamous Hand of God is etched in football folklore and more recently, Thiery Henry produced the Hand of Frog to dispatch Ireland in World Cup qualifying. Now the Hand of Payne will be the nightmare the Phoenix will want to forget.

Referee Peter Grant made a massive error in allowing Sydney sub Chris Payne's second goal last night. But despite the blatant hand-ball, the goal did not change the outcome of the match. Sydney FC simply had too much fire power for the Phoenix.

I have to say whilst the Phoenix have been fantastic and they must be congratulated for their season, they were outclassed last night. They could not match Sydney and failed to impose themselves and get any rhythm to their game.

Perhaps the last four weeks did take its toll last night. It has been an epic campaign from the whole club. Finishing at the front of the chasing pack is an achievement in itself. Sydney and Melbourne are clearly superior to those below them and I am really looking forward to next week's final.

Ricki Herbert and co can take a well earned break before embarking on another dream that stated against Mexico a couple of weeks ago.

The Phoenix failed to get out of second gear for most of the game. Much was said about the midfield battle before the game and if it was a boxing match referee Peter Green probably would have stopped the bout well inside the twelve rounds.

Sydney dominated from the first whistle with Mark Bridge and Seb Ryall vying for the first yellow card with dubious challenges on John McKain and Paul Ifill inside four minutes.

Chris Payne was an instant hit coming on for the injured John Aloisi in the first quarter of the match. He latched onto an Alex Brosque pass to score with his first touch.

The Phoenix responded almost immediately and threatened to stop the game being one-way traffic. A Leo Bertos free kick was flicked on by Vince Lia and an unmarked Andrew Durrante was on hand to head home from close range and send the 500 or so Phoenix supporters into hysteria.

However, it was Payne's second goal on 30 minutes that further ignite debate on the subject of replay technology being used by match officials. Brosque swung in a free kick and Payne clearly used his arm to force the ball past Phoenix keeper Liam Reddy. Skipper Andrew Durrante was livid as Phoenix players engulfed the man in yellow to protest.

In the second half, Sydney slowly started to lift the tempo and flex their muscle with Bridge and Brosque ever present and dangerous. Their telepathic combinations and intricate passing out of midfield was the catalyst that the Phoenix, for the fourth time this season, had no answers for. Their slick passing and movement led to Brosque clinically finishing off a Barcelona-like move from back to front. For once Reddy could only watch as his future teammates dismantled his wall in front.

Ball speed and quick thinking led to the fourth goal for Bridge after man of the moment Brosque sprang through a square Phoenix defence to give his teammate a simple tap in and send Bling FC into the final.

Phoenix substitute Eugene Dadi finished off his season with a glancing header for the Phoenix's second goal after good work from Daniel out wide. But sadly for the club and its army of supporters, the season ended there.