Luke Vickery has secured Macarthur one of the great A-League Men’s (ALM) wins, his 96th-minute strike securing the Bulls a madcap 5-4 Boxing Day win over Newcastle.
With both sides throwing haymakers at each other in the final minutes at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night, Socceroo midfielder Anthony Caceres teed up Vickery to seal the victory, with a shoving match breaking out afterwards as the hosts unsuccessfully appealed for a free kick.
The Bulls had only scored seven goals in nine games heading into the Boxing Day encounter, amid reports that they are set to sign Socceroo striker Mitch Duke in the January window.
Japanese side Machida Zelvia announced on Christmas that Duke would complete a permanent move to Campbelltown.
The Bulls, who lost Korean forward Ji Dong-won to injury earlier in the week, are yet to confirm the deal, but broadcaster Paramount also reported the 34-year-old’s impending arrival.
Harry Politidis suffered an early ankle injury to add more woes for the visitors.
However, that didn’t stop them from taking the lead 15 minutes in when Liam Rose dropped a ball behind the Jets’ line for Bernardo Oliveira to poke home.
The hosts, who lost the in-form Daniel Wilmering in the warm-up, equalised in the 42nd minute via an unstoppable Eli Adams free kick, but fell behind again moments later when James Delianov knocked a cross straight into Dean Bosnjak’s thigh.
Clayton Taylor restored parity three minutes into the second half, but Bosnjak’s second made it 3-2 two minutes later.
Harrison Sawyer’s 68th minute tap-in made it 4-2, before Xavier Bertoncello answered in the 75th minute.
Another equaliser was delivered by Ben Gibson in the 83rd minute.
But, sadly for the home fans, Vickery had the final word in controversial circumstances.
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