Western United trounced Macarthur FC with a resounding 4-0 victory in Ballarat as striker Besart Berisha found the net twice to give his side all three points.
This game was the first time that managers Mark Rudan and Ante Milicic pit their wits against each other for their respective clubs, in a battle of the two of the newer teams in the A-League.
It took 25 minutes for the first goal to be scored as midfielder Iker Guarrotxena created something out of nothing as he showed great vision to create space and take a long range shot that was kept low and hard as it went into the bottom corner for 1-0.
Five minutes later, United wide man Connor Pain went down the left wing and sent a low cross towards the Berisha at the near post. Just as it started to look like the veteran hitman would latch onto it, centre-half Aleksandar Susnjar put in an excellent last ditch sliding block to deny the opportunity.
Over at the other end, a handball from defender Tomoki Imai allowed the Bulls’ Benat Etxebarria to take a free-kick on goal that produced a decent save from goalkeeper Filip Kurto. The shot-stopper was called into action moments later when he showed good bravery to dive at the feet of opposition skipper Mark Milligan to clear the ball and deny the attack.
United midfielder Guarrotxena was putting in a strong shift as he began an attack with a beautiful long ball to release skipper Alessandro Diamanti to the left of goal. As shot-stopper Mark Birighitti came off his line to deal with the attack, the Italian calmly cut the ball through to Berisha who was in space with a open goal to finish with ease and make it 2-0.
Despite being behind by two at the end of the first period, Macarthur came out swinging as they put the home side under a short period of intense pressure. But as they threw the bodies forward, they opened themselves to counterattacking opportunities. That is precisely what Diamanti created when he sent a long ball through to young attacker Dylan Pierias to score on his 21st birthday.
Yet the Bulls continued applying pressure and were left scratching their heads as Rudan’s men put in some stoic defending to ensure that the opponents did not get back into the game.
Five minutes past the hour mark was when United put the game beyond all doubt, when Guarrotxena produced a moment of sheer class as he dinked the ball in a move that deserved a goal but came off the post. But Berisha showed that his instinct remains undiminished as he pounced on the rebound to bag his second of the evening.
Just as normal time finished and the game went into added time, the Bulls’ boss Milicic strangely left as the game continued. Almost as though it was a reaction, the visitors pulled back a consolatory goal as a Matt Derbyshire header hit the back of the net as Lachlan Rose got his name on the scoresheet with an assist to his name.
Western United have a derby day against Melbourne Victory in their next game, while Macarthur also face their cross-town rivals Sydney FC next Sunday.
