Macarthur FC has done the double in the Battle of the West after taking control of most of the game against Western Sydney Wanderers at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Bulls took complete control of the first half, making it difficult for the Wanderers to create chances. Craig Noone scored a brilliant goal in the match’s early stages to give Macarthur the lead.
The home side struggled to keep the same momentum of the first half after Ulises Dávila scored the second and after the Wanderers got one back. However, The Bulls finished strong with a converted penalty by Dávila.
Key Moments
6’| The Bulls got the first chance on goal when Moudi Najjar went for a long shot on goal, but it went wide.
8’| GOAL FOR THE BULLS! Craig Noone strikes the ball into the top left-hand corner inside the box after Al Hassan Toure provides the assist with a cross.
18’| Macarthur could have increased their lead after Toure volleyed the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box. However, it went straight to Daniel Margush.
40’| Najjar cuts back near the box, leading to Noone almost sneaking the ball into the goal, but Margush reads it.
50’| Adrian Mariappa went for a header inside the box, which went wide.
51’| Toure came close again to widen the gap when he had shot on the right side of the box, but his shot went a couple of inches wide from the target.
73’| GOAL FOR THE BULLS! El Capitan has increased the lead for his side with a wonderful finish into the top left corner inside the box.
80’| Goal for Western Sydney Wanderers. Terry Antonis scores a header from close-range, which Tomislav Mrcela assisted.
90+8’| GOAL FOR THE BULLS! Dávila delivers again after converting from the spot. A VAR decision overturned the offside decision to give Macarthur the penalty.
“The most pleasing aspect is winning a game of football after the week we’ve had,” said Bulls coach Ante Milicic.
“Playing one of the best teams in the competition on Wednesday, traveling Thursday, not being able to train on the Friday and to put on a performance like that with a two day turn around.
“Credit to those footballers because it’s not the first time they’ve showed that kind of mentality so I’m super pleased that we got the three points at home in front of how supporters.
“It was an excellent defensive mentality and it started from the front. I thought Apo [Giannou] and Uli [Dávila] were excellent and they [Wanderers] had a lot of field possession in our back and mid-third, but at the same time I felt [Filip] Kurto was rarely tested.
“I also thought when we regain the ball that we looked dangerous on the counter and it worked for us tonight and I’m super pleased with that aspect of the game.”
Macarthur FC: 3 (Noone 8’, Dávila 73’, 90+8’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1 (Antonis 80’)
Macarthur FC: 12. KURTO Filip (GK), 6. JOVANOVIC Aleksandar, 8. MUTCH Jordon (24. M’MOMBWA Charles 68’), 10. DAVILA Ulises (C), 11. OAR Thomas, 14. NAJJAR Moudi, 17. NOONE Craig (19. RUHS Michael 90’), 20. USKOK Tomislav, 23. MARIAPPA Adrian, 35. TOURE Al Hassan (31. ROSE Lachlan 58’), 99. Apostolos Giannou (4. MEREDITH James 90’)
Substitutes: 1. SUMAN Nicholas (GK), 21. HOLLMAN Jake, 22. ROSE Liam
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. MARGUSH Daniel, 3. TRAORE Adama, 7. NAJJARINE Ramy (36. LOPANE Alessandro 79’), 8. UGARKOVIC Steven, 10. HEMED Tomer (9. IBINI-ISEI Bernie 74’), 11. OGAWA Keijiro (32. CARLUCCIO Jarrod 74’), 13. RUSSELL Tate (39. AQUILINA Thomas 54’), 15. Mrcela Tomislav, 17. BACCUS Keanu (29. ANTONIS Terry 78’), 23. PETRATOS Dimitrios, 25. CANCAR Phillip
Substitutes: 20. MEJIAS Tomas (GK), 22. KOUTROUMBIS John
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Referee: Adam Kersey
Assistant Referees: Nathan MacDonald and Andrej Giev
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
