Tim Gibson, Australia Cup
Macarthur started their Cup defence with a resounding 5-0 win over FNSW League One outfit and NPL NSW giant slayers SD Raiders.
It took more than half an hour for the reigning champions to break the hosts’ resistance. Raiders’ goalkeeper Michael Figueira took a heavy touch on the edge of his box, with the Bulls snatching the ball and racing forward to allow Bernando Oliveira to blast it into a vacant net.
Macarthur soon scored their second, and it was more misfortune for Raiders. Luke Brattan’s free-kick from the right was inadvertently deflected into the bottom right corner by Raiders’ captain James Letta.
It took the side just four second-half minutes to extend their lead to three. Oliveira dribbled through midfield before sliding Harrison Sawyer into a shooting position; the striker slotted the ball into the right side of the goal.
Macarthur added a fourth goal soon after the hour mark through Chris Ikonomidis, who placed the ball through Figueira’s legs from the right of the box.
With eight minutes to play, the two-time Cup winners finished off the tie with a fifth as midfielder Anthony Caceres drove the ball into the goal from close range.
The Bulls will progress to the Round of 16.
