Macarthur Bulls have secured one of the most dramatic wins in recent Isuzu UTE A-League history, defeating Newcastle Jets 5-4 at McDonald Jones Stadium thanks to a 96th minute winner.
The Jets were dealt a blow before the game with in-form defender Daniel Wilmering ruled out of the contest at the last minute after picking up a calf injury in the warm-up, with the left back replaced by debutant Richard Nkomo.
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Despite the Jets’ recent good form it was the Bulls who started the better of the two sides and took the lead in the 15th minute; midfielder Liam Rose clipping a perfect pass over the Jets backline and into the path of the arriving Bernardo, who stabbed the ball beyond keeper James Delianov to make it 1-0.
Having been second best in the opening 20 minutes the home side duly upped the ante and they levelled things up on the approach to half time care of a piece of magic from Eli Adams.
Standing over a set-piece outside the Bulls’ box, Adams scored one of the goals of the season as he knuckleballed a freekick over the wall and into the far corner leaving Macarthur keeper Filip Kurto rooted to the spot.
However, having levelled things up the Jets then found themselves behind heading into the break as a Luke Vickery cross from the right was parried by Delianov but straight into the thigh of the arriving Dean Bosnjak, and the Bulls were 2-1 up heading into half time.
Flying out of the blocks to start the second half, the Jets made it 2-2 in the 48th minute as Clayton Taylor danced his way into the Bulls box before firing his effort into the roof of the net, sparking scenes of joy in the stand behind the goal.
And a crazy start to the second half was a sign of things to come at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Having dragged themselves back into the game for a second time, the Jets would then be forced to do so once more as Macarthur winger Bernardo raced down the left, beat defender Joe Shaughnessy for pace before squaring to Bosnjak who slotted home his second and Macarthur’s third in the 50th minute.
Not content to just sit on their lead, Macarthur went in search of what they hoped would be an all important fourth goal and it arrived in the 68th minute.
Released down the Macarthur right, the impressive Vickery fired a low shot towards goal which was meekly parried by Delianov and the goalkeeper was then punished, as substitute Harry Sawyer tapped home from close range to score his fifth goal of the campaign and move to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
To make it even sweeter, Sawyer added another excellent goal celebration to his portfolio as he scooped up a nearby Jets ballboy onto his back before running away in celebration, mimicking a Jet and giving the ballboy a memory he’ll never forget.
Now two goals down Mark Milligan’s side were going to have produce something special to salvage anything in front of their home fans and it all began in the 75th minute.
Brought on to inspire the Jets attack, Kota Mizunuma did just that as he worked himself a yard of space down the right before whipping a brilliant cross into the box which was cooly swept home by substitute Xavier Bertoncello.
3-4 to the Bulls, but things would get even crazier.
Driving into the box, substitute Ben Gibson attempted to get a shot off, but while his effort was blocked by a cohort of Bulls defenders he was in the right place at the right time to slot home the loose ball to make it 4-4, causing bedlam in the stands.
Both sides then pushed hard to seal the winner in what was already one of the greatest games in Isuzu UTE A-League history, but it would be the Bulls players who would head home with smiles on their faces.
Collecting the ball from Sawyer on halfway, substitute Anthony Caceres drove into the Jets half and curled a sumptuous outside-of-the-boot pass across the Newcastle backline and into the path of Vickery, and the winger did the rest; lacing a powerful shot across the keeper and into the far corner to break Newcastle hearts in the 96th minute.
The result caps off a tremendous week for Macarthur who have now secured two wins and a draw in the space of seven days to move themselves up into fourth on the ladder.
As for the Jets, defeat means Mark Milligan’s side now sit seventh on the ladder and miss out on the chance to jump into the top four.
WHAT THEY SAID
Hear from Macarthur’s goalscoring sensation Harry Sawyer, who now leads the Golden Boot standings.
Eli Adams scored a wondergoal for the Jets but it wasn’t enough to help them defeat Macarthur. He spoke to Paramount+ after the full time whistle.
