A virtuoso display by captain Ulises Davila has inspired Macarthur to an A-League Men’s triumph, defeating Adelaide 4-1 at Campbelltown Stadium.
Davila played a starring role as goals from Apostolos Giannou, Craig Noone, former Red Al Hassan Toure and Michael Ruhs followed Craig Goodwin’s opener for Adelaide and secured a first league win for the Bulls since Christmas.
The Mexican combined with Giannou in a one-two before the Socceroo smashed home his first ALM goal before halftime.
And it was Davila’s trickery which won a second-half penalty in the 66th minute for the Bulls when he beat George Timotheou before being brought down by the Reds defender.
Noone’s strike from the penalty spot was saved by Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci but the English winger squeezed home the rebound to spark wild celebrations from a relieved Macarthur team.
Saturday night’s win was sealed for Ante Milicic’s team when Toure volleyed home Noone’s cross in the 73rd minute to score his first goal for his new club against his former one.
Davila again had a key role when Ruhs wrapped up the win with his first goal of the season to finish a 91st minute counter-attack.
The goal completed a stark transformation on the night for Adelaide, who had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Socceroo Goodwin fired home his sixth goal of the season.
Goodwin’s 34th goal for the Reds takes him within one of all-time record goalscorer Bruce Djite’s mark of 35 strikes for the club.
That goal seemed to rock the hosts, with Noone and Aleksandar Susnjar both picking up bookings for fouls on Stefan Mauk as frustrations started to boil over.
Just when they needed it though, Giannou levelled the scores at the break and from that point on there was only one winner as Adelaide – playing their third game of the week – had no answer to the Bulls’ second-half energy.
A hamstring injury to Danny De Silva, which forced the midfielder from the game in the 53rd minute, was the only sour note for Milicic as Macarthur moved up to fifth on the ladder heading into Wednesday’s clash with Perth.
Third-placed Adelaide return to South Australia ahead of their next match against Central Coast on February 26.