Macarthur FC’s inaugural exploration of Asia has yielded triumphant results, as the Bulls overcame Myanmar’s Shan United with a triumphant 3-0 victory in their first AFC Cup match held at Thuwunna Stadium.
Securing their place in the Asian club competition with a win at the last year’s Australia Cup, the Bulls swiftly carved a lasting impression in the sharply contested Group F match that took place on Thursday evening.
French forward Valère Germain effectively used a penalty to thrust the Bulls into a leading position, after team captain Ulises Davila was infringed by defender Kekere Moukailou. The Bulls fortified their on-field presence and continued to press their attack. Their unyielding patience bore fruit when they netted two more goals in the concluding moments of the second half. The goals, by substitute player Ali Auglah and Lachlan Rose, ensured that the team would be returning home decorated with three points.
Bulls’ veteran Coach Mile Sterjovski was both confident and pleased with his team, believing that the win was a testament to their deserved merit.
Sterjovski praised his team’s performance amidst the challenging humid conditions and against a rival team that played a robust game. He further expanded, saying “The team adhered to the game plan, and executed their roles perfectly, which lead to a successful outcome. Shan United indeed played a tough game, making an especially deep impact in the first half. However, as the match progressed, we found our rhythm, becoming increasingly assertive and creating numerous scoring opportunities in the second half.
While acknowledging Shan United’s commendable efforts, Sterjovski was unequivocal about his team’s performance, asserting “In the final analysis, we proved to be the mightier of the two teams.”
