Two penalties for Macarthur FC proved the difference in defeating a spirited Sydney United 2-0 on Saturday night at Commbank Stadium.
The match burst into action within the first minute as tempers flared following a crude challenge on Macarthur winger Daniel Arzani. After a brief altercation between the two sets of players, the confrontation dissipated with referee Daniel Elder administering a stern warning either way.
The early animosity was followed by a string of chances for the Bulls with a Al Hassan Toure drive and a Jonathan Aspropotamtis header forcing United keeper Danijel Nizic into important saves.
The trickery of Arzani and Toure was causing trouble for the Sydney United defence; however, half an hour in, Ulises Davila was the one tackled to the ground, and a penalty was awarded.
Toure took responsibility, lashing an effort into the middle of the goal – undeterred by the screeching United faithful staring him down from the stands.
The A-League Men side went into the break with a narrow lead courtesy of a purposeful first-half display.
Macarthur continued their attacking impetus into the second half with Lachlan Rose’s header cannoning back off the crossbar inside 10 minutes.
Chances continued to trickle through for the Bulls and they searched for a second goal to finish off the match.
Sydney United almost pulled level with a little over 20 minutes to go, as substitute Patrick Antelmi’s close-range header was saved by Macarthur goalkeeper Filip Kurto.
Anthony Carter nearly came off the bench to double Macarthur’s advantage with eight minutes to go. His shot from inside the box requiring Nizic to get down low and make a sharp save.
The pressure finally told on the Sydney United backline as the Bulls were awarded another penalty in the 90th minute– this time Craig Noone was brought down in the box.
Davila stepped up for this one finding the bottom-left corner with Nizic diving in the other direction.
Macarthur saw out the rest of the match to be crowned the 2022 Australia Cup champions and earn their first trophy as a football club.
For Sydney United 58, this is a spectacular close to the season despite a disappointing run in the National Premier Leagues NSW.
Whereas a maiden piece of silverware is exactly the start Macarthur would have wanted before the start of their 2022/23 A-League Men season.
Sydney United 58 0
Macarthur FC 2 (Al Hassan Toure 32’ penalty, Ulises Davila 90′ penalty)
Stadium: CommBank Stadium
Referee:Â Daniel Elder
Assistant Referees: Andrej Giev and Andrew Meimarakas
Fourth Official:Â Kurt Ams
Sydney United 58: Danijel NIZIC (GK), Yianni FRAGOGIANNIS (Cristian GONZALEZ 73’), Adrian VLASTELICA (C), Yianni PERKATIS, Anthony TOMELIC, Tariq MAIA (Patrick ANTELMI 65’), Andreas ADAMEMNONOS (Glen TRIFIRO 55’), Jordan ROBERTS, Christopher PAYNE, Taisei Kaneko (Kyle CIMENTI 73’)
Unused subs: James HUSOY (GK), Jordan IVANCIC, Adrian KNEZ
Macarthur FC: Filip KURTO (GK), Jake MCGING, Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, Tomislav USKOK, Ivan VUJICA, Danny DE SILVA, Kearyn BACCUS (Jerry SKOTADIS 78’), Al Hassan TOURE, Ulises DAVILA (C), Daniel ARZANI (Craig NOONE 73’), Lachlan ROSE (Anthony CARTER 78’)
Unused subs: Nicholas SUMAN (GK), Jake HOLLMAN, Charles M’MOMBWA, Matthew MILLAR
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