Western United clinch top spot in A-League after Sydney FC stalemate, Melbourne Victory lose to Newcastle

Western United lead the A-League Men's competition by a single point after a rain-soaked 1-1 draw with Sydney FC.

Sky Blues midfielder Max Burgess denied his former club the chance to pull further clear on the A-League Men's ladder on Saturday, scoring his second goal of the season at a soggy Nestrata Jubilee Stadium.

The midfielder's clever finish of a Milos Ninkovic assist cancelled out Western United's opener in the first half after Steven Lustica fired through a forest of legs and past an unsighted Thomas Heward-Belle.

Western thought they had earned a late chance to secure the three points when referee Shaun Evans whistled for a penalty in stoppage time after the ball struck Sydney defender Rhyan Grant on his upper arm.

But after reviewing the replay on the pitch-side monitor, Evans overturned the decision and rescinded the yellow card he had shown to Grant.

Several Western players including Neil Kilkenny complained to Evans at the full-time whistle and coach John Aloisi admitted he was confused by the reversal.

«I'm not totally sure of where the handball is? Is it the sleeve now is not handball or is it below the sleeve? If it is the sleeve well then I'm going to get my players to wear a longer sleeve,» Aloisi said.

«I'm not sure if it's clear and obvious to overturn it.

»[I'm] disappointed, yes, but we have to get on with it and sometimes these decisions will go for you and sometimes against you.

«Unfortunately it went against us.»

Sydney came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening half when a Ninkovic effort in the 30th minute was palmed onto the post by Western goalkeeper Jamie Young.

Just 10 minutes after the restart, the visitors were ahead when Lustica's side-footed effort from the edge of the box beat a