A virtuoso display by captain Ulises Davila has inspired Macarthur to a much-needed Isuzu UTE A-League triumph, defeating Adelaide 4-1 at Campbelltown Stadium.
Davila played a starring role as goals from Apostolos Giannou, Craig Noone, former Red Al Hassan Toure and Michael Ruhs followed Craig Goodwin’s opener for Adelaide and secured a first league win for the Bulls since Christmas.
The Mexican combined with Giannou in a one-two before the Socceroo smashed home his first ALM goal before halftime.
And it was Davila’s trickery which won a second-half penalty in the 66th minute for the Bulls when he beat George Timotheou before being brought down by the Reds defender.
Noone’s strike from the penalty spot was saved by Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci but the English winger squeezed home the rebound to spark wild celebrations from a relieved Macarthur team.
Saturday night’s win was sealed for Ante Milicic’s team when Toure volleyed home Noone’s cross in the 73rd minute to score his first goal for his new club against his former one.
Davila again had a key role when Ruhs wrapped up the win with his first goal of the season to finish a 91st minute counter-attack.
The goal completed a stark transformation on the night for Adelaide, who had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Socceroo Goodwin fired home his sixth goal of the season.
Goodwin’s 34th goal for the Reds takes him within one of all-time record goalscorer Bruce Djite’s mark of 35 strikes for the club.
That goal seemed to rock the hosts, with Noone and Aleksandar Susnjar both picking up bookings for fouls on Stefan Mauk as frustrations started to boil over.
Just when they needed it though, Giannou levelled the scores at the break and from that point on there was only one winner as Adelaide – playing their third game of the week – had no answer to the Bulls’ second-half energy.
A hamstring injury to Danny De Silva, which forced the midfielder from the game in the 53rd minute, was the only sour note for Milicic as Macarthur moved up to fifth on the ladder heading into Wednesday’s clash with Perth.
Third-placed Adelaide return to South Australia ahead of their next match against Central Coast on February 26.
LIVE FEED
By Matthew Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: MACARTHUR 4-1 ADELAIDE
That’s a wrap from Campbelltown Stadium, as Macarthur come from a goal down to notch an impressive 4-1 win over Adelaide United.
Watch all the highlights below.
KEY MOMENTS
- (9.32PM AEDT) RUHS PUTS IT BEYOND DOUBT
Macarthur have gone out of sight after Michael Ruhs’ first goal of the season which makes it 4-1 at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Bulls lead by three goals after going 1-0 down in the first half.
- (9.17PM AEDT) TOURE SCORES AS BULLS RUN AWAY WITH IT
A well-taken volley from former Red Al Hassan Toure has made it 3-1 in favour of the Bulls at Campbelltown Stadium.
Noone turned provider with a left-footed cross off the right flank and Toure showed decisiveness to hit it first time, beating Gauci with a clean strike into the back of the net.
- (9.10PM AEDT) NOONE FROM THE SPOT PUTS BULLS AHEAD
Craig Noone scores his second of the season to put Macarthur 2-1 ahead.
The Englishman converted from the penalty spot after George Timotheou dragged Dávila down clumsily in the box. Reds keeper Joe Gauci made the save from the initial attempt but Noone scored on the rebound.
- (8.28PM AEDT) GIANNOU NETS MAIDEN ALM GOAL
Apostolos Giannou has opened his Macarthur account after a neat piece of interplay with Ulises Dávila in and around the penalty area.
Giannou showed feet to receive the ball, sliding Dávila into the box who cut the ball back for the fringe Socceroo to bury his strike into the back of the net and draw Macarthur level at 1-1.
- (8.05PM AEDT) GOODWIN GOAL PUTS REDS AHEAD
A brilliant piece of hold-up play from Hiroshi Ibusuki created the chance for Craig Goodwin to put Adelaide ahead.
The Japanese forward controlled a long ball off his chest and involved Stefan Mauk in an attacking play, who set Goodwin up to cut onto his right foot and find the bottom-right corner.
Adelaide lead 1-0 after 22 minutes of play at Campbelltown Stadium.
