Teen sensation returns Macarthur to A-League winners list

A maiden A-League goal from Dean Bosnjak has returned Macarthur to the winners list with a 2-1 victory over Wellington in New Zealand.

With scores locked at 1-1 after an entertaining first-half, the 18 year-old checked into the game in the 60th minute and didn’t take long to make an impact.

The left footer found the back of the net in the 76th minute to break the deadlock and give the Bulls their first ever win in Wellington.

After two straight draws, the victory moved Macarthur back into the top six while the defeat was the second straight for the Phoenix.

It was a perfect start for the home side after Valerie Germain found the back of the net after a saved penalty in sixth minute.

But it was all the visitors from that point on in the first half, who peppered the goals on multiple occasions with no avail.

That all changed in the 43rd minute when veteran Konstantinos Barbarouses kicked his fifth goal of the season to extend his own streak of four straight matches on the scoresheet.

Macarthur will next face Central Coast Mariners on December 23 while Wellington will look to respond against Western Sydney Wanderers on December 22.

Adelaide’s ‘Goodwin’: United’s star recruit leads Mariners hammering

Robert Dillon

for Newswire

ARCHIE Goodwin reaffirmed his reputation as one of the signings of the A-League season with a decisive role in Adelaide’s 4-0 hammering of defending champions Central Coast in Gosford on Friday night.

Born and bred in Newcastle, Goodwin debuted for the Jets as a 16-year-old and played 44 games in their top side over the course of four seasons, scoring six goals and earning selection for the Young Socceroos.

Frustrated with his lack of game time last season, Goodwin rejected a contract extension at the Jets and instead gambled on a move to Adelaide, where he has gone from strength to strength.

After opening his account with a matchwinner off the bench against Brisbane recently,

Goodwin has been starting upfront for Adelaide and he gave another glimpse of his finishing abilities in the 13th minute of Friday night’s clash.

Winning the ball in the middle of the pitch, the 20-year-old laid off, sprinted upfield, and was perfectly positioned to pounce on a pinpoint cross from midfielder Austin Ayoubi.

Adelaide doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Zach Clough created space, whipped in a cross and Panagiotis Kikianis finished from close range.

Goodwin was the architect of Adelaide’s third goal in the 50th minute when he stole possession, drew the defence and passed to Clough, who centred for Stefan Mauk to tap in.

Adelaide substitute Yaya Dukuly made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute with a cracking strike, which he celebrated with a spectacular backflip.

ADELAIDE ADVANCING

After a lean 2023-24 campaign in which they finished eighth – seven points adrift of the top six – Adelaide are clearly intent on making amends.

While Auckland are deservedly earning rave reviews after winning their first six games, the Reds have without fuss or fanfare loomed up in their rear-view mirror.

Their win against the Mariners lifted Adelaide into outright second position on the points table, one point behind Auckland, who play Melbourne City on Sunday.

In the process, Adelaide have scored 17 goals in seven games. No rival team has put it in the net as often.

Carl Veart’s men have won five of their past six fixtures in the process and appear to be warming to their task.

SPANIARD A STAYER

Spanish midfielder Isaias Sanchez created a piece of club history for Adelaide when he appeared in his 239th A-League game.

That took him past the club record held by former goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, and Adelaide celebrated the occasion in style with a dominant win.

The 37-year-old is expected to retire at the end of this season but will be hoping to become the first Adelaide player to go past the 250-game milestone.

CHAMPIONS STUMPED

The two-time champions are unlikely to panic at this early point in proceedings. It was only last season, after all, that they lost their first four games and recovered to win the grand final.

But there must be some concern mounting for Mariners coach Mark Jackson about his team’s lack of firepower upfront.

Central Coast have scored only five goals in seven games thus far. They need more from their strike force if they hope to challenge for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles.

SEVENTH HEAVEN

The result ended a lean few years for Adelaide in Gosford. The Reds had returned empty-handed in their previous six visits to the Central Coast.