Round 8 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season rolls into Saturday with four games on the matchday agenda.
Tune in throughout the day as aleagues.com.au brings you all the highlights, results and the biggest talking points from Saturday’s four-game feast.
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The matchday agenda
- Wellington Phoenix 1-2 Macarthur Bulls
- Sydney FC 3-4 Western United
- Western Sydney Wanderers 2-2 Brisbane Roar
- Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets – HBF Park, 9.45pm AEDT
Macarthur down Wellington as Chiefy suffers career-first
Macarthur Bulls teenager Dean Bosnjak scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal to hand his side an impressive 2-1 away win over Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulls led early through Valere Germain before Kosta Barbarouses struck the Phoenix back into the game on the cusp of half-time; Bosnjak then became the hero for Macarthur in the second half as the Bulls dealt Wellington a second-consecutive defeat.
It’s the first time Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has overseen back-to-back losses as a head coach in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Macarthur captain Valere Germain put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute after a handball in the box from Phoenix defender Isaac Hughes led to a penalty awarded to the Bulls.
Wellington keeper Josh Oluwayemi saved Germain’s attempt from the spot but the Frenchman finished on the rebound.
Macarthur held their one-goal lead until the cusp of half-time when Kosta Barbarouses levelled the score with his 98th goal in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The New Zealand international was assisted by Marco Rojas who made his first Phoenix start in 5,048 days.
The game remained level until the 75th minute when Macarthur teenager Dean Bosnjak gave the visitors the lead once again.
The 18-year-old finished a neat Bulls move to notch his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal and earn all three points for the away side.
Macarthur keeper Filip Kurto was immense against his former side Phoenix, making a series of crucial saves to set the platform for the Bulls’ 2-1 win.
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Seven-goal thriller! Ruhs the hero for Western in stunning win over Sydney FC
An 87th-minute Michael Ruhs goal earned Western United all three points in a dramatic 4-3 win over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Sky Blues came from behind twice to equalise at 1-1 and 3-3 in a seesawing affair but Ruhs was the hero for the visitors in Sydney, finishing off a Western counter attack in the dying stages to snatch all three points for John Aloisi’s side.
Noah Botic opened the scoring for Western inside three minutes to put the visitors into an early lead – but the first half ended with Sydney in the box seat thanks to a 10-minute brace scored by Adrian Segecic.
A three-goal first half led to a dramatic second stanza in which Western came from behind to lead thanks to goals from young due Abel Walatee and Rhys Bozinovski – but there were more twists to come in a seesawing affair.
Sydney FC’s record appearance maker Rhyan Grant produced an equaliser in the 68th minute, heading home from a corner routine to make it 3-3 at Allianz Stadium.
Both Sydney and Western had goals disallowed in a breathless second half; Sky Blues striker Patryk Klimala was denied a goal due to a handball call, while Western striker Hiroki Ibusuki saw his clinical finish ruled out for offside.
But just when it looked like the game would finish 3-3, substitute Ruhs came up with the deciding goal to earn Western a seismic win on the road – and Western’s second win of the season.
Borrello brace not enough for Wanderers as Roar come back twice to earn gutsy point
Western Sydney Wanderers led twice but were ultimately forced to settle for a point as Brisbane came back refused to say die in a 2-2 draw at CommBank Stadium.
Borrello put the hosts ahead early but the lead lasted just three minutes as a Gabriel Cleur own goal squared the ledger.
By the 21-minute mark Wanderers were ahead once again – this time through a stunning free-kick from Socceroo Borrello who had the home side firing early doors.
But by the half-hour mark Brisbane had returned serve once again – and it was 19-year-old striker Thomas Waddingham who found the equaliser.
Waddingham’s 11th career goal was scored in style and it ensured Brisbane went into half-time level at 2-2; after a four-goal first half, that’s how the score remained until full-time with neither side able to find a winning goal at CommBank Stadium.
Saturday, 9.45pm (AEDT): Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
HBF Park – Paramount+
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