Western United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Macarthur FC in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men to kick off Unite Round on Friday night.
Ben Garuccio got United off to a perfect start with a goal inside the opening couple of minutes but Ulises Davila struck either side of half-time to put Macarthur in the lead.
The Green and Black continued to dominate and finally broke through to equalise through Daniel Penha, and the Brazilian went on to score a stunning second goal to put United back in front.
That goal seemed like it might have been the winner but Macarthur stayed in it and Davila completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute to ensure both sides left with a point.
Team News
John Aloisi made one alteration to his starting XI, handing a first professional league start to 20-year-old Matthew Grimaldi on the left of midfield.
He came into the line-up in place of Noah Botic while Josh Risdon led the team out in his 250th Isuzu UTE A-League Men appearance.
First Half
Western United got off to a dream start as Garuccio found the net with barely two minutes on the clock after a silky attacking move.
The Green and Black broke decisively through Macarthur’s defence as Michael Ruhs made his way into the box. Grimaldi got an initial contact on Ruhs’ cut-back and it fell for Garuccio to run onto at the back post and slam into an empty net.
Aloisi’s side remained on the front foot and Ruhs and Risdon both had efforts on goal alongside a series of corners, but Macarthur were eventually able to clear their lines.
Ruhs had another opportunity when he ran just about the entire length of the pitch to get into the box, but Ivan Vujica defended him hell to force his shot wide.
United continued to dominate and probe Macarthur’s defence for the best part of the opening half hour but couldn’t find the second goal, leaving the door open for the Bulls to hit on the counter.
With their first shot on target, Macarthur equalised really out of nothing as United afforded Davila too much space outside the box and the Mexican obliged with a stunner into the back of the net.
That gave Mile Sterjovski’s side a lift and they enjoyed a period of dominance thereafter, with Jacob Tratt needed to make an excellent block to stop Davila from doubling his tally and putting Macarthur in front.
The Green and Black seemingly needed a minute to regather some momentum and did so before half-time, putting a number of quality chances together in quick succession.
Angus Thurgate began to find more of the ball and was behind a lot of the positive play, whipping a cross onto Daniel Penha’s head but Filip Kurto saved superbly to push the ball away from the bottom left corner.
Kurto made a similar save from the same player as the ball flew towards the same corner, this time Penha’s effort came from outside the box on his right foot.
Ruhs was a handful for Macarthur’s defence and broke in behind just before the break. After seeing his initial shot saved, the No.9 squared the ball for Wales to score but the ball had struck Ruhs’ hand, giving Macarthur a free-kick instead and leaving the sides level at the break.
Second Half
United set about continuing its dominance and got straight on the front foot after the restart but a defensive mix-up gave Macarthur a gift to take the lead.
It was presented to probably the worst possible player from United’s point of view as Davila took advantage, rounding Tom Heward-Belle and rolling the ball home.
That goal was only a bump in the road in terms of United’s play as the vast majority of the half continued to be played in Macarthur’s half.
Garuccio very nearly found a second when he arrived at the back post once again, but this time with the ball falling from the sky he couldn’t make a good enough connection to send the ball towards goal.
Kurto was in immense form for the Bulls and was sharp off his line to deny Lachie Wales after Risdon picked him out brilliantly over the top of the defence.
Penha was again knocked back by Macarthur’s goalkeeper minutes later with another sprawling save as the ball bent towards the bottom corner.
United’s No.11 wasn’t to be denied and after all of his efforts, he finally scored with a simple tap-in from just about on the goal line.
Western United put together another slick passing move that ended at Thurgate’s feet at the top of the box. His shot came crashing down off the crossbar and Penha was quickest to react, heading home just in time before Kurto was able to stand up to block the rebound.
If his first was simple, his second was anything but as Penha took over to give United the lead in the 85th minute.
After United broke forward, Penha beat his man with a brilliant piece of skill before rifling a long-range strike into the back of the net via the left-hand post.
But there was one more twist in the game and it was a cruel one for Western United. On the stroke of injury time, Davila flicked a header towards goal and via a heavy deflection off Jacob Tratt’s head, the ball looped over Heward-Belle and into the net.
The Green and Black once again bounced back and poured everything into the six minutes of stoppage time but there was no winner in sight as United had to settle for a point.
