It was hot and heavy conditions at Campbelltown Stadium yesterday afternoon when Macarthur FC hosted Melbourne Victory.
It was also the first game back after the competition went into a three week World Cup break, so fatigue was always going to be a huge factor.
Both coaches pointed to that after Victory scored a goal with seven minutes left to win the match 1-0.
Tony Popovic, asked how he saw the game: “It was hot, the ground was heavy, and coming back from a break there was a lot of fatigue, so we are happy because we go back to Melbourne with the three points.’’
Bulls mentor Dwight Yorke used almost the same words when he was asked by the South West Voice in Macarthur why his side could not score a goal or two.
“Fatigue certainly played a role in the game, it was tough out there, but I am not making any excuses – it was the same for both teams,’’ Yorke said.
After 80 minutes the match looked like it was headed for the first ever goal-less draw between these two clubs.
But three minutes later Victory mounted an attack that started on the left edge, but then a long pass across the field found Ben Folami unmarked and with acres of space between himself and goalie Filip Kurto.
The Bulls defenders, weighed down by fatigue moved almost like they were in slow motion and Folami set the ball up and smashed it past Kurto and into the net.
Macarthur FC, as tired as they were, launched several raids of their own, but it was not to be, even with six minutes added on.
The loss means the Bulls drop three places to seventh on the A-League ladder.
However, this was a game that can be put away and forgotten because after the World Cup break it was obvious all players had got a bit rusty.
There were so many wayward passes in the first half alone the statistician would have got RSI.
On the bright side for the Bulls, Daniel Arzani, the forgotten Socceroo, had a very good game, with his crosses lethal at times.
Unfortunately, he was substituted at half time after suffering a shoulder and neck injury.
The Bulls are back home again next Sunday, when they will host Perth Glory from 5pm.
