Argentina's Perez gets 2-match ban for diving

Argentine midfielder Patricio Perez's first goal in Australia's A-League from a penalty has been followed by a two-match ban for diving.

Perez, a former under-20s teammate of Lionel Messi, made his debut off the bench at Sydney Football Stadium and earned his Central Coast Mariners a 1-1 draw with a 73rd-minute goal from the spot.

The equalizer came in controversial circumstances, with Perez's fall resulting in Sydney goalkeeper Liam Reddy being sent off for the foul.

On Monday, the A-League's match review committee gave Perez the ban under its ''simulation rules.'' It also rescinded Reddy's red card, leaving him available for Sydney's next match.