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Perth, Macarthur play out A-League draw

3 minute read

Perth and Macarthur FC have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw, with the Glory's A-League finals hopes remaining in the balance.

Head Coach RICHARD GARCIA. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Perth Glory have completed their eight-game home streak by earning an entertaining 1-1 draw with Macarthur FC.

Richard Garcia's team were coming off a four-game winning run at home but in their seventh game in 23 days had to settle for a draw at HBF Park on Sunday.

"It's a very good point," Garcia said.

"The boys have done tremendously over the last 23 days to play seven games for four wins, two draws, and only one loss."

The result leaves Macarthur, who are unbeaten in six, fifth on goal difference with three matches to play, while Perth remain two points outside the top six ahead of their three games on the road.

"It's two points dropped ... I'm disappointed not to pick up maximum points because I felt that our performance deserved that," Macarthur coach Ante Milicic said.

"In the end we go home disappointed and we have to prepare for a quick turnaround for Thursday night."

Milicic expects to welcome back Benat Etxebarria (tight calf) against Central Coast on Thursday after he failed to make the trip while Jake McGing and Tommy Oar should also be in contention.

Perth took the lead from an arguably soft penalty in the 13th minute.

Andy Keogh went down under contact from Mark Milligan and skipper Diego Castro casually slotted the spot-kick.

The Bulls appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty of their own when Jason Geria brought down Charles M'Mombwa in the 28th minute, with the Macarthur forward aggravating an existing ankle issue and leaving the field minutes later.

"I thought that (Perth's penalty) was ever so soft, so the less said, the better," Milicic said.

"Then we're denied a penalty with Charles, who then has to go off injured ... now I've potentially lost a player for what was an obvious penalty."

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.

Both Macarthur goalkeeper Adam Federici and Perth counterpart Liam Reddy made multiple excellent saves.

In the 69th minute, Bruno Fornaroli went down under a Genreau challenge but any suggestions of a penalty were waved away.

"If the one on Andy's a penalty, then the one on Bruno's gotta be a penalty as well, but it's not to be," Garcia said.

Federici denied Castro brilliantly 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.