Perth Glory and Macarthur share spoils at HBF Park

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:06 am

Macarthur FC came from behind against Perth Glory, drawing 1-1 to snare a well-earned point on the road and remain right in the thick of the A-League finals mix.

The Glory were coming off a four-game winning streak at home but Macarthur extended their unbeaten run to six in an entertaining, end-to-end contest at HBF Park.

The result leaves Macarthur fifth on goal difference while Perth remain two points outside the top six ahead of their three games on the road.

Andy Keogh had the ball in the back of the net after two minutes but was correctly ruled offside but 11 minutes later Perth took the lead from a penalty. Keogh went down under contact from Mark Milligan and skipper Diego Castro casually slotted the spot kick.

Diego Castro celebrates after scoring the opening goal.
Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Bulls appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty of their own when Jason Geria brought down Charles M'Mombwa in the 28th minute. But two minutes later, Macarthur equalised. 

Denis Genreau slipped the ball to Moudi Najjar, who combined with James Meredith down the left before the defender squared a pass for Matt Derbyshire to slide home..

Perth's Bruno Fornaroli thundered a free kick into the post in the 39th minute while Adam Federici pulled off an outstanding save to deny Keogh three minutes later -- though the Glory striker was offside.

Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy batted away Loic Puyo's long-range strike in the 53rd minute.

Seven minutes later, Chris Ikonomidis forced a near-post save from Federici while the ball was cleared off the line amid a goalmouth scramble from the subsequent corner.

In the 69th minute, Fornaroli went down under a Genreau challenge but any suggestions of a penalty were waved away, while Genreau forced a good save from Reddy five minutes later.

Federici brilliantly denied Castro in the 89th minute and barely a minute later Glory substitute Carlo Armiento ripped a strike off the crossbar.

Macarthur screamed for a handball penalty off Jonathan Aspropotamitis late in injury time but were unsuccessful.