Melbourne Victory picked up a point when they visited Macarthur FC on Friday night.
It was the least they deserved at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, where they dominated large swathes of the Isuzu UTE A-League clash and had the Bulls’ backline creaking in both halves.
Louis D’Arrigo smashed the woodwork as half-time loomed before substitute Nishan Velupillay had Victory’s best second-half chances, firing narrowly wide and then forcing a fine stop from Filip Kurto as the Round 7 match headed to a stalemate.
Team News
There were two alterations from the XI that started the narrow loss to Brisbane Roar a week previous. An enforced change meant the suspended Denis Genreau was replaced by playmaker Juan Mata. The other switch saw Santos come in for Matthew Grimaldi, who was among the substitutes.
Match Action
The visitors opened on the front foot, and 2025 Victory Medal winner Jordi Valadon was pulling the strings in the midfield. Although his first attempt at a cross was overhit, just minutes later, he was right on the money. His floated forward pass gave Mata space inside the penalty area, and his cutback found Keegan Jelacic, who was unfortunate to see his first-time effort deflected behind.
Continuing to set the agenda, it was Diles’ team who had the next opportunity. Santos persisted on the left and dug out a cross into the middle, but Jing Reec could not guide his header on target.
There was no let-up in the attacking effort as the half went on. Jelacic and Reec both won corners, the second of which was just a shade too high for Jason Davidson to get a clean-headed connection on.
When Macarthur did make tracks at the other end, Anthony Caceres’ mazy run was concluded with a wild shot that flew well off-target.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, Victory thought they had secured the lead. Santos showed exceptional technique to pick out the bottom corner thanks to a fizzing strike. But as the celebrations were ongoing, a VAR review was beginning. The result of which, following the referee’s trip to the pitch-side monitor, was Mata being penalised for a foul in the build-up and the goal was chalked off.
This frustration did not deter Melbourne from pushing, and in first-half added-time, the Bulls’ goal was living a charmed life. Louis D’Arrigo was desperately unlucky when he pulled the trigger from range, watching his piledriver cannon out off the post.
Half-time: Macarthur FC 0-0 Melbourne Victory
Victory’s appetite to push forward was not diminished by the interval. They attacked straight from the restart, and it took some last-ditch defending to block Santos and Mata efforts.
There was, though, in the stifling heat of New South Wales, the option for fresh legs, and Diles replaced Jelacic and the yellow-carded Joshua Inserra with Nishan Velupillay and Joshua Rawlins.
Macarthur, having also turned to the bench, would have spell on the front foot, although he had little to show for this before Victory threatened again. Santos bolted over the halfway line onto a through ball and, in looking for Mata in the middle, his cross was almost turned in at the near post for an own goal.
Big moments kept coming, and this time, it was Jack Duncan proving his worth, as the Bulls came close. Despite the goalkeeper appearing to be fouled when coming for a high ball, play continued, but Duncan stayed alert enough to backpedal and claw Tomislav Uskok’s goalbound effort away.
This was, however, a rare, genuine sight of goal for the hosts, and almost immediately it was the away team throwing caution to the wind. Rawlins centred low from the right, and Reec’s telescoping stretch was inches from turning the ball home before substitute Grimaldi, as the attack continued, fired wide from a central position.
Another introduction, Velupillay, went even closer. He had looked sharp as soon as he entered the pitch, and it took some late curl to carry his show from the angle beyond the far post. The Socceroo was then, after bursting into the box, denied by an outstretched Filip Kurto leg from what was remarkably Victory’s first effort on target
Match Details
Macarthur FC 0
Melbourne Victory 0
Macarthur FC starting XI: 12. Filip KURTO (GK), 5. Matthew JURMAN (14. Kristian POPOVIC 79′), 6. Tomislav USKOK, 7. Sime GRZAN, 10. Anthony CACERES, 13. Rafael Duran MARTINEZ (28. Harrison SAWYER 56′), 19. Harry POLITIDIS, 22. Liam ROSE (23. Frans DELI 66′), 24. Dean BOSNJAK (11. Bernardo OLIVEIRA, 246′), 25. Callum TALBOT, 26. Luke BRATTAN (C) (33. Dongwon JI 46′).
Substitutes not used: 1. Alexander ROBINSON (GK), 18. Walter SCOTT.
Booking: GRZAN 70′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA (22. Joshua RAWLINS 56′), 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 11. SANTOS, 64. Juan MATA (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 71′), 23. Keegan JELACIC (17. Nishan VELUPILLAY 56′), 19. Jing REEC.
Substitutes not used: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 3. Adama TRAORE, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC.
Booking: INSERRA 28′.
Coming soon
The final month of 2025 gets rather tasty next Saturday, with Adelaide United visiting AAMI Park for the Original Rivalry’s latest chapter. The ALM and ALW double header is an action-packed match day not to be missed, so get your tickets now!