Brisbane Roar's impressive undefeated streak in the A-League Men competition has come to a dramatic end, shattered by two Harrison Sawyer penalties in a weather-affected Friday night thriller against Macarthur FC.
Lightning Delays and a Roar Lead
The match at Campbelltown Stadium kicked off more than an hour late, with dangerous lightning in the area forcing a significant delay to the scheduled 6:00 PM AEDT start. When play finally commenced, it was the visiting Roar who looked more threatening, aiming to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Their persistence paid off just three minutes after the half-time break. A slick attacking move involving Youstin Salas, Henry Hore, and Justin Vidic set up debutant Matthew Dench. The 22-year-old midfielder, part of a reshuffled Brisbane lineup, showed great composure to slot home a first-time, left-footed finish and give his side the lead.
Sawyer's Spot-Kick Double Turns the Tide
The momentum shifted decisively in the second half following the introduction of former Roar youth striker Harrison Sawyer. The Bulls were awarded their first penalty in the 66th minute after a foul by Brisbane defender Lucas Herrington on Bernardo Oliveira. Sawyer stepped up and coolly found the bottom corner to level the scores.
Just seven minutes later, the substitute striker was involved again, earning a second penalty after being fouled by Brisbane's Noah Maieroni, who had only just entered the fray. Sawyer displayed nerves of steel once more, sending goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis the wrong way to put Macarthur ahead 2-1.
"We knew it would come down to fine margins," Sawyer told Paramount Plus post-match. "My teammates did a lot of hard work. I just kicked the ball in from 12 yards (twice). It's a team effort, and we're really happy."
Missed Opportunities and Looking Ahead
The Roar had chances to take control earlier in the contest. English striker Chris Long was denied by Macarthur keeper Filip Kurto in just the fourth minute, while captain Jay O'Shea fired a good opportunity over the bar. For Macarthur, Callum Talbot forced a straightforward save from Bouzanis with a first-half volley.
The defeat marks only Brisbane's second loss of the season, with both coming on the road. Macarthur FC, meanwhile, secures its third win of the campaign. The Bulls return to action quickly, facing Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Tuesday night. Brisbane Roar now has a longer break before their next fixture, a New Year's Eve encounter against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
