City's Argentinian winger Fernando Brandan scored a marvellous goal, but also attracted the wrath of home fans by rolling around and clutching his face after Rhyan Grant brushed his head in a second-half challenge.

Sydney's Brazilian striker Bobo was only yellow carded for a late and high challenge which left City defender Ivan Franjic writhing on the ground, while the Sydney front man then went down under what appeared to be a very soft challenge from Melbourne defender Michael Jakobsen to earn his team a late equaliser from the penalty spot.

There were numerous other events in a fractious and ill-tempered game which saw players go to ground to try to gain advantage.

It's not something Australian fans – or certainly those of other sports – like, but van 't Schip says it is part of the world sport, and how players from other countries and different cultures play the game.

"In my opinion it wasn't a penalty. I think it was compensating the red card [Sydney's Josh Brillante had been sent off minutes before Bobo won the penalty for the 80th-minute equaliser]. You can discuss a lot of things [but] we have to start protecting ... players that are getting the ball and want to do something with it, but I think it's the other way round a lot of times.

"We need to make sure we can see more football and we also have to protect the attacking player.

"In general in the games we are playing ... we have players from other countries, for example Fernando, if he gets a touch, is it allowed to push someone away with his hand, then maybe he reacts in a way that's a bit too much, but it's not allowed.

"You can't kick a player [Bobo], it's for me a red card, you can see the studs in Ivan's leg."

Sydney boss Graham Arnold was delighted with the character and conviction his team showed, saying they were in championship-winning form.

Van 't Schip was disappointed his side could not hold on to its lead but pledged that City still had plenty of improvement to come.