Federici heroics earn Macarthur draw at Perth Glory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:07 am

Macarthur FC goalkeeper Adam Federic pulled off a series of clutch saves to help secure his side a 0-0 draw against Perth Glory at HBF Park.

Glory launched wave after wave of attack in the second half of Saturday's match in a desperate bid to get the win they needed to spark their A-League season.

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But Federici was up to the task each time, with his most important moment coming in the 57th minute when he got a deft touch to the ball to send Bruno Fornaroli's shot flying onto the post.

The result continues a barren run for both sides. Glory have posted just one win from their past 11 matches to slip further away from the finals spots. The Bulls are now winless in their past five matches, and could slip out of the top six depending on other results.

"I wouldn't call it a classic, that's for sure," Macarthur coach Ante Milicic said of the match. "I don't think the game was played with a great intensity.

"In the end we're delighted in the fact that we came here without Aleksandar Susnjar, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Ivan Franjic, Markel Susaeta, and Tommy Oar (and got a point)."

Federici ensured Macarthur left Perth with a point.
Paul Kane/Getty Images

Glory coach Richard Garcia was disappointed not to come away with the win, but happy to post the club's first clean sheet of the season.

"It's frustrating, because we know we should have taken those chances and scored," Garcia said. "But the signs are there that the side are back in the right frame of mind. It's a fantastic clean sheet, and something we've been searching for all season. It would have been nice to win it."

Both teams lacked fluency in the first half, with Macarthur struggling to create clear-cut chances despite dominating territory and possession.

Chances were also few and far between for Perth, but they did create a golden opportunity in the 17th minute when Diego Castro's pass found Fornaroli alone in the box. Fornaroli unleashed the shot, but Federici stuck out his right leg to produce a sensational save.

Federici pulled off another fantastic save in the 57th minute when he palmed Fornaroli's powerful shot onto the post after the Uruguayan's one-two with Castro had opened up Macarthur's defence. The veteran goalkeeper was called into action numerous times after that as Glory pushed for the winner, and he was up to the task each time.

Macarthur midfielder Denis Genreau will miss Thursday's away clash with Melbourne Victory after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.