Macarthur FC have secured a well-earned point with a 1-1- draw against the form team of the competition Melbourne City.
Already missing plenty of experienced with Aleksandar Jovanovic, Ivan Franjic, Tommy Oar and Markel Susaeta missing Saturday night’s clash, the Bulls would do it tough after head coach Ante Milicic handed the reins over to assistant Ivan Jolic for the match, after a personal loss during the week.
From the opening whistle, the Bulls looked to make amends for last weekends 2-all draw with Newcastle, by starting fast and direct, pushing into City’s midfield on several occasions in the opening 10 minutes.
Full of heart and spirit, the Bulls best chance of the half cam just 5 minutes into the match when Denis Genreau slipped a tidy ball through City’s defensive line and Matt Derbyshire pushed his shot just wide of the target.
Although the Bulls dominated possession the scores would be level at half-time.
After the resumption of play, Mark Milligan found the back of the net – all be it the wrong end of the pitch – for an own goal, however the goal was overturned after City’s Jamie Maclaren was ruled to be offside in the lead up.
In the 58th minute City’s Connor Metcalf gave the visitors the lead, finishing off a well worked move down the left side of the pitch.
The Bulls wasted no time in replying, with Frenchman Loic Puyo almost finding the back of the net with a looping header in the 63rd minute.
As the Bulls pushed to level the scores, stand in coach Ivan Jolic went to his bench for an inspired substitution with 19 year-old Michael Ruhs.
18-year-old Michael Ruhs gets his first #ALeague goal ?
?️: @FOXFOOTBALL #ALeague #MACvMCY #RunWithTheHerd pic.twitter.com/FXTc1vJNiM
— A-League (@ALeague) April 24, 2021
A mishap from City’s Marco Tilio and Kerrin Stokes, saw Ruhs pounce on a loose ball and crucially score his first A-League goal.
One of the nights most entertaining battles was the duel between Bulls Captain Mark Milligan and Golden Boot leader Jamie Maclaren. Milligan was instrumental in shutting down the City Striker and keeping the Bulls in the game, defusing several attacking raids.
City’s Connor Metcalf almost snatched the 3 points for the visitors, after a lofted strike thundered into Federicic’s crossbar, however it wasn’t enough and the matched ended 1-1.
Macarthur FC goal scorer Michael Ruhs said post-match, he was shaking after scoring his first A-League goal.
“It was incredible. A long time coming and to get the equaliser against Melbourne City was a dream come true.”
“I tried to bring that energy back into the game and press behind their defenders when I came on.
“Hearing the fans go crazy and everyone jumping, celebrating with me after the goal went in was something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Ruhs said.
