Macarthur FC extended their unbeaten streak to six matches after clawing back a goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Isuzu UTE A-League leaders Auckland FC at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Wet and warm conditions welcomed both teams to Campbelltown Sports Stadium as the home side eyed the chance to go top of the table with a win against the league leaders.
The first real chance of the match came on 20 minutes when Louis Verstraete found Hiroki Sakai with a lovely ball out wide before Sakai crossed to the feet of Logan Rogerson, only for Walter Scott to make an excellent block for the hosts.
That steadied Macarthur and minutes later they had their first significant sight of goal through Luke Vickery at the end of a quick counter-attack, but he could only shoot wide from the top of the area with a curling left-foot effort.
As the half-time whistle loomed it was the visitors who broke the deadlock against the run of play. Sime Grzan found himself in the Auckland area after a mazy run, only to be denied by a brilliant Daniel Hall tackle. Rather than clear long, Hall played out from the back and two passes later the ball was at Lachlan Brook’s feet behind Macarthur’s defence. One on one with Filip Kurto, Brook finished smartly under the goalkeeper to score the opener and notch his fourth goal of the season.
The visitors had the perfect chance to double their lead minutes into the second half after Francis De Vries’ swinging ball met the head of Nando Pijnaker, but he found the woodwork before Sakai headed over the bar from the recycled ball back in.
Macarthur missed golden chances in the ensuing minutes as Kristian Popovic and Harrison Sawyer blazed over and headed wide, respectively, before Tomi Uskok found the leveller on the back of a smart team move. Liam Rose’s delightful ball over the top from the middle of the park was met and crossed first time by Callum Talbot as he found Uskok for the sharp header from six yards.
A winner couldn’t be found and that meant the result was the first ever draw between the two sides. Macarthur moved level on points into second with Sydney FC (19) and Auckland extended their lead at the top to two points.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Macarthur FC captain Luke Brattan speaks after a 1-1 draw against Auckland FC
Mile Sterjovski reflects on Macarthur FC going six unbeaten in the Isuzu UTE A-League
Lachlan Brook discusses his side’s performance against Macarthur FC
Louis Verstraete talks through his Player of the Match performance for Auckland FC
Auckland FC manager Steve Corica reacts to his side’s 1-1 draw with Macarthur FC
