Macarthur FC secured a 2-1 A-League victory over Perth Glory at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday afternoon, using a composed first-half display and a decisive second-half strike from Marin Jakoliš to hold off a late Perth surge. The win gives Macarthur another valuable home result and leaves Perth Glory still searching for consistency away from home in the early part of the season.

Match overview

Macarthur began with purpose, controlling possession through Luke Brattan in midfield and looking to release Valère Germain and Jakoliš in the channels. Perth Glory sat deeper in a disciplined 4-4-2 shape, hoping to spring Adam Taggart on the counter, but the home side’s pressing forced a series of turnovers in dangerous areas.

The opening goal arrived in the 24th minute when Jakoliš drove at the Perth back line and squared a low ball across the penalty area. Germain arrived on cue, steering his first-time finish beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Perth responded with a brief spell of pressure before half-time, but Macarthur goalkeeper Filip Kurto was equal to Taggart’s close-range header in first-half stoppage time.

Key moments

• 24’ – Macarthur 1-0: Valère Germain finishes a sharp move involving Marin Jakoliš down the right.
• 45+2’ – Perth chance: Adam Taggart forces a strong save from Filip Kurto with a header from a corner.
• 67’ – Macarthur 2-0: Jakoliš curls a composed finish into the far corner after cutting inside from the flank.
• 78’ – Perth 2-1: Taggart pulls one back with a trademark penalty-box finish after a scramble.
• 90+4’ – Late block: Macarthur defender Kealey Adamson throws himself in front of a goal-bound effort to protect the three points.

Tactical story

Macarthur’s 4-2-3-1 shape gave them control in central areas, with Brattan dictating the tempo and the front four rotating to pull Perth’s midfield out of position. The home side’s best moments came when Jakoliš isolated his marker and attacked the space behind Perth’s left-back. Without the ball, Macarthur pressed intelligently rather than constantly, choosing their moments to step up and deny Perth clean access into Taggart.

Perth improved after the break and found more joy by going more direct, but their equaliser never arrived. The Glory’s late goal gave the closing stages a nervous edge, yet Macarthur managed the game well, slowing the tempo and defending their box with composure. It was not a flawless performance, but it was the kind of controlled home display that coaches value across a long A-League campaign.

Standout players

Germain’s movement and link-up play were central to Macarthur’s attacking threat, while Jakoliš delivered the game’s defining contribution with a goal and an assist. Brattan’s calm distribution helped Macarthur dictate long spells, and Kurto’s first-half save from Taggart proved just as important as the second goal. For Perth, Taggart was the obvious bright spot, scoring once and occupying both centre-backs throughout.

What the result means

The three points strengthen Macarthur’s position in the early A-League standings and reinforce their home form at Campbelltown Stadium. For Perth Glory, the defeat highlights the need for greater cutting edge in away matches, especially when chances are limited. The Glory showed enough fight to suggest better results are close, but Macarthur’s ability to protect a lead proved the difference on the day.