Tai Po FC v Macarthur Bulls ACL Two preview: Details, Team News

Macarthur Bulls are back in Asia this season and they kick-off their AFC Champions League Two campaign in Hong Kong on Thursday night.

Securing entry to the prestigious competition care of their 2024 Australia Cup triumph, Mile Sterjovski’s side are now preparing for their opening ACL Two game which sees them take on Tai Po FC of the Hong Kong Premier League.

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Pitted in Group E, the Bulls will face home-and-away matches against Tai Po FC whilst also facing off against Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan and Vietnamese outfit Cong An Hanoi FC, who boast former Adelaide United midfielder Stefan Mauk amongst their ranks in what is their first appearance in the competition.

The Bulls previously took part in this same competition when it was known as the AFC Cup in season 2023-24 when they were ultimately knocked out by fellow Isuzu UTE A-League side Central Coast Mariners, who would eventually go on to win the trophy in Oman.

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Format, prize money & fixtures

Unlike the ACL Champions League Elite competition which operates in a league format, the ACL Two remains as it was last year: Eight groups consisting of four teams in each, with all sides playing against one another at home and away.

First up for the men from South West Sydney is an away clash with Tai Po FC before they then welcome Beijing Guoan to Campbelltown Sports Stadium on October 2 ahead of their Isuzu UTE A-League season opener against Brisbane Roar. Sterjovski’s side then play Cong An Hanoi FC away and then at home before rounding out their group-stage campaign with a home clash with Tai Po and a tricky away game in China against Guoan.

The top two sides from each group will then progress through to the knockout stages of the competition where the draw remains split between ‘East and West’ before the two best sides from each side of the draw will meet in the final.

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Last season it was Sharjah FC of the UAE (West) who defeat Lion City Sailors of Singapore (East) in the final.

As previously mentioned the Bulls secured entry into this season’s ACL Two competition care of their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory in the 2024 Australia Cup final and they’ll be hoping to go one better than rivals Sydney FC did last year when they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Singaporean side Lion City Sailors FC.

Judging by what the Sky Blues earned last season, Macarthur could well be in for a substantial payday should they go deep in the competition. Sydney FC pocketed $300,000 USD – which equates to around AUD $450,000 for just qualifying for the group stages, last year and should Sterjovski’s men manage to go all the way this season then they could be looking at a windfall in the region of AUD $4.92m!

Team news

It has certainly been an eye-catching off-season from Sterjovski and the Bulls’ football department as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of a dual-assault on both the ACL Two and Isuzu UTE A-League.

Having lost the likes of Valere Germain and Jed Drew midway through last season the club then farewelled more important first players this off-season including the likes of Kealey Adamson (Queens Park Rangers), Jake Hollman and of course the outstanding Marin Jakolis, who hit double figures in both goals and assists last season.

However, headlined by the acquisition of Socceroo Anthony Caceres from rivals Sydney FC the Bulls have splashed the cash on new recruits, many of whom could well feature for the club on Thursday night.

In total the Bulls have added seven new faces including Championship winning duo Callum Talbot and Harry Politidis from Melbourne City, two-time Melbourne Victory Player of the Year Damien Da Silva and Croatian winger Šime Gržan.

Furthermore, the Bulls have also snapped-up Mexican striker Rafael Duran Martinez and former Sunderland forward Ji Dong-won for the upcoming season, however neither player has travelled to Hong Kong for this fixture.

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Form

Whilst it may still be pre-season for the Isuzu UTE A-League teams Macarthur Bulls do head into the game in Hong Kong with plenty of match minutes under their belts.

Sterjovski’s side recorded 5-0 and 2-0 victories over SD Raiders and MetroStars respectively in the Australia Cup before then succumbing to a 3-0 defeat to fellow Isuzu UTE A-League outside Newcastle Jets in the Quarter-Finals.

Furthermore the club has played a number of pre-season friendly matches in order to stay sharp ahead of their big ACL Two kick-off.

As for the opponents, reigning Hong Kong Premier League Champions Tai Po FC currently find themselves sat eighth in the 10-team competition having drawn and lost their opening two matches of the season.

Interestingly enough there will be a somewhat familiar face to greet the Bulls in Hong Kong on Thursday with former Western Sydney Wanderers forward James Temelkovski now playing for Tai Po.