Macarthur FC have secured a vital point in the West to keep their finals hopes alive with a 1-all draw with Perth Glory at HBF Park.
In weather more suited for ducks, Glory took the lead after being awarded a controversial penalty, after a soft challenge from Bulls captain Mark Milligan on Perth striker Andy Keogh. Diego Castro then stepped up and put away his 49th A-League goal.
The Bulls would draw level through a string of tight passing down the left edge, when Moudi Najjar found James Meredith, who served the clubs leading goal scorer Matt Derbyshire, a tap in past Liam Reddy.
The Bulls now have a short turn around, hosting the Central Coast Mariners on Thursday back at Campbelltown Stadium.
KEY MOMENTS
2nd minute – Glory looked to take the lead with in-form striker Andy Keogh finding the back of the net in the first 2 minutes after a scrappy turnover in mid field, however ruled offside by the linesman and then confirmed by VAR.
12th minute – Glory wins a controversial penalty on the edge of the box, after Bull’s captain Mark Milligan lightly brushed Andy Keogh. Diego Castro stepped up and slotted his 49th A-League goal giving the home side the lead.
20th minutes – Bulls get their best chance of the first half when Loic Puyo forces Glory keeper Liam Reddy into a top quality save from a long range free-kick.
28th minute – Charles M’Mombwa succumbs to an ankle injury picked up in another controversial challenge inside the box from Jason Geria minutes earlier., forcing Ante Milicic to his bench earlier than expected, with 18-year-old Michael Ruhs injected into the match.
29th minute – Bulls DRAW LEVEL – Matt Derbyshire scores his 14th goal of the campaign, finishing off a well worked team goal after James Meredith and Moudi Najjar combine down the left side.
Matt Derbyshire equalises for @mfcbulls with his 14th goal on the season! ?
?: @FOXFOOTBALL#RunWithTheHerd #ALeague #PERvMAC #ALLive pic.twitter.com/jhR6UpGOLJ
— A-League (@ALeague) May 23, 2021
40th minute – FEDEREICI SAVE! – Glory’s Andy Keogh forcing Adam Federici into a sensational save before again given offside.
53RD minute – CHANCE! – After some quality build up play, Liam Rose feeds Loic Puyo a lovely ball on the edge of the box and forces Liam Reddy to make a diving save to his right and paddle it out for a corner.
60th minute – Milligan scrambles and clears off the line after a quality corner from Ota.
73rd minute – DERBYSHIRE CHANCE! – Moudi Najjar provides a top shelf cross into the near post on the left side looking for the head of Matt Derbyshire, however just missed.
84th minute – Denis Genreau is awarded a free kick after being fouled by Nick D’Agostino. Genreau cuts back the free kick to Mark Milligan who pushes it high over the bar.
88th minute – FEDERICI SAVE! Diego Castro almost gives Perth the lead but is denied by Federici who puts his body on the line.
90+4 – Calls for a Perth handball denied by the referee in the final play of the game, after a Denis Genreau corner finds Aleksandar Susnjar’s head and deflected away by Jonathan Aspro.
FULL TIME – It ends all square in Perth 1-1
Bulls captain Mark Milligan said at full time on Fox Sports:
“Three points would have been nice, but it’s a tough trip to come here, so a point is a probably fair result.”
