Substitute Ryan Fraser has sparked a remarkable comeback, scoring and assisting on debut as Macarthur FC netted twice in the last ten minutes to defeat Perth.
Perth’s hunt for an opening-round A-League Men win will stretch to at least 13 years after two goals in the last ten minutes has lifted Macarthur FC to a 2-1 win in Sasa Ognenovski’s first game in charge.
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With the game deadlocked as the hour approached at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Glory skipper Tom Lawrence took it upon himself to break things open in the 59th minute, striding to the top of the area and stroking an effort into the bottom corner.
But hopes of a first-round win since a 2-1 victory over Wellington in 2014 were dashed in the final ten minutes, with the first blow delivered when a trailing arm of Calem Nieuwenhof collected the ball and gave away a penalty.
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And while Matt Sutton denied Ryan Fraser’s first attempt, giving Perth a glimmer of hope, encroachment from Cher Deng gifted the Scotsman a second attempt he made no mistake with.
All the momentum was at the Bulls’ backs, and they then went ahead in the 89th minute when Fraser delivered an inch-perfect free kick onto the head of Jonathan Aspropotamitis, who nodded in the match winner.
Signed from Western Sydney in the off-season, Fraser had only been substituted into the game on 55 minutes, thrown on after a first-half in which neither side was able to produce much in the way of quality.
Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, Adam Griffiths’ side will look to bounce back next week when they travel to face Brisbane on Friday, while Ognenovski will look to make it two-from-two when Macarthur travel to Newcastle the following day.
There will, however, be some concern in the Bulls’ camp over the health of Musa Toure, after the striker ran out the game despite suffering a reported shoulder separation.
