A 98th-minute penalty from Valere Germain has helped Macarthur salvage a point in a drama-charged 1-1 A-League Men draw with the Newcastle Jets.
The Bulls looked destined for defeat on Friday until Jets defender Phillip Cancar bundled into Lachlan Rose in the box in the dying stages at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Germain stepped up from the spot and slotted the ball calmly down the middle to cancel out Clayton Taylor’s first-half opener to arrest a slide of three straight losses for the Bulls.
“I think we deserved that and I think we deserve more,” said Macarthur boss Mile Sterjovski.
“I haven’t seen the stats, but I feel like we did dominate the match.
“Newcastle are a difficult opponent to play against and I thought they defended well, broke forward well, but in the second half, I feel like we controlled most of the game.
“We were lucky not to score a few more, and with a bit more composure in front of goal we score two or three.”
Valere Germain and his Macarthur FC teammates celebrate scoring the equaliser during their draw with Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
The pace of Taylor and Trent Buhagiar posed questions of the Macarthur defence on the counter, and it only took nine minutes for Newcastle to take the lead.
Thomas Acquilina drifted a delightful cross through the back four and towards the back post, with Taylor tucking it in for his fourth goal of the season.
The 19-year-old nearly added a second less than two minutes later, but his effort cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety.
At the other end, Ryan Scott did fantastically well to deny Clayton Lewis with a one-on-one save, while Tomi Uskok rattled the woodwork with a header from a set piece just before the half-time break.
Macarthur began the second half with a bang, captain Ulises Davila going on one of his trademark runs and putting his side ahead after the ball ricocheted off several players and back into his path.
Unfortunately for the Bulls skipper, after a three-minute VAR check, the goal was ruled out because the ball had deflected off Macarthur teammate Raphael Borgues Rodrigues en route to Davila’s feet.
Macarthur players and Sterjovski were incensed and the side struggled for impetus, until Olyroos midfielder Jake Hollman was introduced with 25 minutes to go.
Hollman had a number of dangerous runs, and as Macarthur pressed forward late in the game a ball was knocked down to Rose.
The striker ran into the box but was body-checked by Cancar, with Germain coolly finishing past Scott to grab a point.
“I said to them at half-time it was ours to lose because we knew Macarthur would be much better in the second half,” said Jets coach Rob Stanton.
“We are quite a young team and they’re going to make mistakes and you have to keep working on them to improve them so that doesn’t happen.
“It’s another painful lesson.”
Grem
Roar Rookie
The noise was decent when sitting in the “crowd”. And the result was in the balance until the full time whistle went. It was a good night at the game. I’ve sat through many different sporting events and that was nowhere near the worst in terms of excitement or quality. Although, I wasn’t sure that Macarthur could get a goal – they also need a striker.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I thought it was an entertaining game and worth the watch, it doesn’t help with an atmosphere as rowdy as a public library - the bull pen needs to be more “bull pit” if they’re going to raise some noise. Both sides wasted chances and better teams would have finished 3-3, but while it was entertaining there were plenty of low quality moments. Jets though killing themselves st the end, with 10 seconds to go the RB just boots the ball long, straight to the opposition keeper who lumps it back in and the net result is a penalty when Jets should have been in possession or pressing an opposition throw in deep in there half … that was a bit of Sunday league football on display there and a win flushed down the drain.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Mac sure found many ways not to score so 1:1 was a fair result based on both teams efforts. Not a high quality game but a competitive game nonetheless.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
It was an underwhelming affair, Macarthur were quite good at the start of the season despite the travel, then its been 4 matches in a row of turgid performances without the travel, Jets they had some energetic performances earlier in the season, which were accompanied by terrible defending, then seem to have gone downhill energy wise but tightened their defense. The big mystery about Macarthur is Germain he has turned into Scepevic, he is running around at half pace and stopping 5 meters from the opposition. Meanwhile raging bull full of energy Rose is trapped on the bench. Rose up front and Davilla can hit through balls all game. Lewis was good at the start of the season , now last four matches its like has fallen asleep no urgency in defending. Skotadis whose last sub appearances lacked energy was the reverse this time. Sterjovski well its not like he was not dodgy last season it was just the way they started this season maybe one thought they turned a new leaf and competing for the title. Newcastle Jets, Clayton Taylor since the Phoenix match has been ordinary and looks exhausted in the second half. They have a lot of players that tire out in the second half. Goodwin gets on and the team is spent. The subs seem to be fittest players off as well. Newcastle are lucky they played Western United last week, and Western United didnt turn up.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It was a great game to watch with end to end action. A draw was a fair result. Newcastle played really good football in the first half and Taylor was outstanding. If he can maintain consistency, he may be something special. Natta looks very composed in defence as well. Macarthur had the better of the second half, but I didn’t think they’d get the goal they worked so hard for. Davila was again outstanding, Holman was brilliant when he came on (I can only assume they ere resting him with so many games coming up) and Lewis was also very good. I was there last night and the crowd is growing. It would have been close to or around 5000 and they care! They are vocal and passionate. The Bull Pen is even growing – a bit. Quite a few Newcastle supporters there too and not one of them knew any details of the proposed sale. I am busting to know who may buy them.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
This was prob one of the most boring games this season. I switched off after the first half, didn't care how it ended. Lucky it wasn't on FTA.