Macarthur go top with victory over Newcastle Jets

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:10 am

Imports Loic Puyo and Matt Derbyshire scored their first A-League goals as Macarthur FC survived extreme second-half pressure to beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 and go top of the ladder.

It was Macarthur's second win from as many away games and gives then seven points from four matches, while the Jets are still pointless after a third straight loss. Newcastle had never lost their first encounter against an expansion club in six previous games.

The table is decidedly lopsided due to the postponements and reschedulings caused by changing border restrictions.

Perth are yet to play a game and their season will start on Wednesday against Adelaide while Melbourne Victory have just the one game under their belt.

That said, the Bulls were happy to snare three points, given they followed their opening-round win with a loss and a draw, and coach Ante Milicic is confident their best is well and truly to come.

"We're nowhere near our best, we know we will improve," Milicic said

Macarthur celebrate what proved to be the winning goal from Matt Derbyshire.
Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Newcastle had a handball claim for a penalty in added time rejected by referee Ben Abraham, but it appeared to be the right decision.

Puyo's acrobatic bicycle kick in the ninth minute from near the penalty spot, opened the scoring and he added an assist later in the half.

The Frenchman's perfectly delivered near-post corner also enabled Englishman Derbyshire to notch the second goal with a powerful header in the 23rd minute.

Moving the ball well, Macarthur threatened to swamp the Jets and Derbyshire also hit the post late in the half. But the battling home side scrapped their way back into the contest

Valentino Yuel became the third player In the game to record a first A-League goal with a close range finish for the Jets in the 43rd minute.

Prior to that Jason Hoffman had a goal rubbed out for offside and Roy O'Donovan was off target with three attempts and Angus Thurgate another.

The resurgent Jets carried that momentum into the second half, but couldn't get the equaliser their domination merited.

O'Donovan had a toe-poked shot pushed away by goalkeeper Adam Federici and the Socceroos custodian also stopped two efforts from the impressive Yuel.

Derbyshire had a powerful shot saved by Jets' goalkeeper Jack Duncan in the 83rd minute, in a rare second-half foray forward by the visiting side.

Macarthur now have 12 days before their next game and will look to keep match fitness through either an in-house fixture or a friendly against an NPL team.

Meanwhile, Melbourne City and Western United are eagerly awaiting confirmation of their next fixtures after their derby clash on Saturday night.

The A-League clubs are expecting to learn their upcoming fixtures on Monday -- with a trip on the road for Perth Glory looking likely amid Western Australia's border closures.

The Glory are currently scheduled to play Western United in Geelong on Saturday night.

Western Sydney head to Gosford to take on the second-placed Central Coast on Tuesday night. The midweek fixtures will continue when Newcastle play Brisbane on Wednesday evening, before Perth kick off their season against Adelaide later that night.