Roar end ALM losing streak, claim draw with Bulls
A-League Men strugglers Brisbane have salvaged a point courtesy of a Macarthur FC own goal in a thrilling 4-4 draw.
The Roar were on song at Campbelltown Sports Stadium early on Saturday when teenager Thomas Waddingham nailed a first-half double, but the Bulls staged a serious second-half comeback.
Keely Adamson breathed new life into a disjointed Macarthur side by reducing the deficit in the 43rd minute, before Tomi Uskok equalised with a headed goal in the 51st minute.
Unwilling to accept a fifth-straight defeat, Brisbane found a way through when Jack Hingert's cross had deflected off Macarthur defender Dino Arslanagic and through the legs of keeper Filip Kurto in the 67th minute.
Still, the Bulls were relentless.
Daniel De Silva came off the bench and drew scores level in the 79th minute before Macarthur captain Valere Germain nailed a header goal three minutes later for what appeared to be the match-winner.
It was another Bulls own goal that opened the door for Brisbane, this time the ball deflecting off Uskok.
The draw will at least relieve Ruben Zadkovich of some pressure, given Brisbane had entered their away clash with zero points after suffering four defeats to start their home-and-away campaign.
"I'm disappointed in the fact that we had the lead three times and gave it away," Zadkovich said.
"The other side of me is extremely proud for a lot of reasons, to go down 4-3 away from home with the start to the season we've had and then show character again ... shows a level of belief and togetherness in that dressing room.
"I expect us to grow. I expect us to be better."
Meanwhile, Macarthur are in touch of the top six, sitting in seventh on seven points.
"Two own goals is, you know, it's not great," Bulls coach Mile Sterjovski said.
"We could have killed them if we were on top of our game.
"Unfortunately for us, we started slow and gave them the belief."
The hosts were on the back foot early when Waddingham stunned with his first goal in the fifth minute.
Florin Berenguer's cross to Brisbane teammate Keegan Jelacic had been intercepted by Uskok, but the Bulls defender failed to clear the ball properly.
With Kurto on the ground, Waddingham easily found the ball into the back of the net.
The 19-year-old found his second when Louis Zabala pulled off a perfect pass, slicing the ball past four Macarthur defenders to set up his 29th-minute goal.
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