Macarthur FC battled to a 2-0 win over MetroStars on Matchday 2 of the 2025 Hahn Australia Cup Round of 16, continuing their defence of the competition.

Here is a review of the action from Monday night.
 

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MetroStars 0-2 Macarthur FC

Last year’s Australia Cup winners Macarthur FC had to work hard to earn their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over NPL South Australia premiers MetroStars.

The hosts had a confident opening to the match, demonstrating attacking purpose as they looked to stun the reigning champions.

MetroStars nearly took the lead three minutes in, following a well-constructed move on the left. Macarthur goalkeeper Filip Kurto needed to palm away Cameron Woodfin’s side-footed close-range effort.

Despite MetroStars’ spirited start, a special moment from Macarthur attacker Bernardo put the A-League side in front just after the half-hour mark. Bernardo latched onto a pass into the right channel before flicking it over his marker and slotting a smart, low finish into the right of the goal.
 

Tweet: https://twitter.com/AustraliaCup/status/1954855735252160960

Bernardo had an excellent opportunity to double his tally and the Bulls’ lead 38 minutes in. Anthony Caceres picked out Bernardo with a superb lobbed pass into the box but the winger blasted straight at MetroStars goalkeeper Cody Oestreich from close in.

The momentum was with the visitors for what remained of the first half, with a second goal looking likely as they increasingly held the ball in their attacking third.

In the 43rd minute, Harry Politidis took on a right-footed curler from the left edge of the box, which Oestreich sprang to his left to repel.

MetroStars almost snatched an equaliser in first-half stoppage time as Tom Visser set off on a run down the right before dragging a shot narrowly past the left post.

Macarthur held on to their slender lead at the break, with MetroStars still a threat in the match.

It took less than a minute after halftime for Macarthur to score their second. Harry Sawyer turned neatly on the right and played a near-perfect pass towards the left of the area for Chris Ikonomidis to send into the top right corner.

In the 59th minute, the home side could have found a route back into the game. A lofted pass found Woodfin centrally in the box, but Kurto reacted quickly to smother the ball before the midfielder could get off a shot. 

MetroStars carried this attacking spell through the hour mark, seeking to halve the deficit, but the Bulls were working hard to keep them at bay.

Another chance arrived for the home side 81 minutes in when Michael Cittadini’s left-sided free-kick met Lachlan Barr’s head at the far post, with the defender heading just over. 

Macarthur took the ball down the other end soon after as Zane Helweh slipped Caceres into the left of the box, where the latter’s effort rolled wide of the right post.

A Mitch Miller header that sailed over proved the final chance for MetroStars as the Bulls saw out the final moments to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Cup. They will face either Cooks Hills United or Newcastle Jets for a semi-final berth.

 

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