If first impressions are anything to go by after producing one of the games of the season the first time these two teams met, the second instalment was always going to be very special.
With the Bulls having all the running in the opening 25 minutes, pressure would eventually become too much for the visitors, when a cleaver Beñat Etxebarria corner found the head of 6ft 4 centre back Aleksandar Jovanovic, who rattled the back of the Wanderers net with near-post header.
Playing full of confidence, the Bulls dominated possession during the opening stanza and forced the Wanderers into errors with their high-energy pressing. The first half finished 1-0.
At the resumption of play, the Wanderers looked a totally different team to the one that took the park in the first half. Energised and pressing for the equalizer, it eventually came when a routine back pass from the Bulls was pounced on by Wanderers captain Graham Dorrens, who found the back of the net from long range after noticing Bulls keeper Adam Federici well off his line.
It would not take long before the Bulls would take the lead again in the derby, this time another nicely worked set piece and was another centre back, Aleksandar Susnjar finding the back of the net.
With both teams desperate to take the full compliment of points on offer, it was a frantic last 20 minutes and well worth the price of admission. It would however be the visitors who would draw level, after Keanu Baccas produced a scorpion kick flick on for Simon Cox to tap in.
The final score would remain 2-2 with many fans leaving Campbelltown Stadium believing a shared point was fitting for the thrilling 90 minutes they’d just witnessed.
Macarthur FC Head Coach Ante Milicic said after the match he was pleased with the first half effort, but his side needed to do better in the second.
“I was pleased with our first half, we played some good football and created chances. To concede the goal we did when we were 1 nil up, we need to do better. We let them back in the game and the last 20 minutes could have gone either way.
“It was an entertaining game in the end, but we need to do better for longer periods.
“They are a very strong team in transition and we probably didn’t deal with it as best as we would of liked.” Milicic said.
The Bulls now have a short turn around, playing Brisbane Roar away on Tuesday night, before returning to Campbelltown Stadium against Adelaide United on Friday evening.
