Macarthur FC have been crowned Australia Cup champions for the second time in just three years after seeing off Melbourne Victory 1-0 in a hotly-contested final in front of 13,289 at AAMI Park on Sunday night.
759 teams started the 2024 iteration of the biggest competition in all of Australian sport and it was the Bulls who stood alone at its end, thanks to a 58th minute goal from new signing Marin Jakolis, who finished clinically at the end of a lightning quick counter-attack.
Heading into the match, questions lingered over how Macarthur would cope without suspended captain Valere Germain who had a hand in five of eight goals to reach this stage.
Ultimately, his replacement – speedster Jed Drew – laid on the assist for the winning goal, catching Jason Geria napping as he jetted in behind the Victory defence to tee up Jakolis to seal the silverware and a place in next season’s AFC Champions League Two.
Bulls goalkeeper Filip Kurto was named the Mark Viduka Medalist for best on ground after making six saves and preserving a clean sheet. He becomes the first shot-stopper ever to claim the prestigious award.
Mile Sterjovski’s plan B paid off handsomely with Drew a constant thorn in Victory’s side and makeshift false nine Jake Hollman showcasing his versatility in his new role up top.
Meanwhile, you couldn’t help but feel Victory were missing their own livewire winger.
Patrick Kisnorbo sprung a selection bombshell by leaving Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani out of his squad entirely for the Final with Reno Piscopo promoted into the starting XI. The likes of Zinedine Machach and Nishan Velupillay loomed large, but could not find a way past the brick wall that was goalkeeper Filip Kurto.
The Pole stood tall with a pair of strong saves in the opening half to deny Piscopo and then Velupillay, as Macarthur waited for their opportunity to strike on the counter.
Kasey Bos thought he’d won a penalty after darting past Kealey Adamson, only to be denied by the referee. Roderick Miranda directed a header just wide of the post from a corner. Then, Macarthur struck and the game changed.
Immediately, Kisnorbo looked to his bench.
On came Jing Reec and Bruno Fornaroli in place of Piscopo and Nikos Vergos and Victory put their cards on the table as they pushed for an equaliser. Young gun Jesse Hoey got his chance, too, as Machach was withdrawn.
In front of a parochial home crowd, the home side pushed and probed, led by Fornaroli and Velupillay but could not find a way past Kurto.
The full time whistle saw Sterjovski’s men crowned the kings of the Cup, extending an extraordinary club record which has now seen 11 wins in 12 matches since the Bulls entered this tournament. Right now, they are Australia’s Cup specialists.
Winning this final is a huge feat for Macarthur.
Not only were they without talisman captain Germain; the decision to move this Final forward a week meant they had to find a way past a fancied Victory side without Young Socceroos trio Frans Deli, Oliver Randazzo and Alexander Robinson – as well as injured stars like Chris Ikonomidis, Bernardo Oliveira and Daniel De Silva.
This will go down as a famous night in the history of Macarthur FC.
