Adelaide United secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Macarthur Bulls at Coopers Stadium, closing the gap to just one point behind second-placed Auckland FC as the season approaches its final round. Anselmo de Moraes played a pivotal role in the match, scoring twice to help his team clinch the win.

Early Lead for Macarthur

Macarthur Bulls started strong, with Socceroos striker Mitch Duke finding the net early in the match. Duke showcased his scoring ability with a well-placed header, converting Callum Talbot’s cross to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game. Despite a quick response from Adelaide’s Ryan White, who was denied by a fine save from Bulls keeper Alexander Robinson, Macarthur held onto their advantage going into halftime.

Adelaide's Comeback

Adelaide faced a setback at halftime, losing defender Ryan Kitto to a foot injury, with Luka Jovanovic also substituted due to injury concerns. However, the introduction of Anselmo proved to be a game-changer. He quickly made his mark by scoring his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal, heading in Jay Barnett’s cross. Anselmo continued to threaten the Bulls' defense, nearly scoring again with a bicycle kick and a header that Robinson managed to tip around the post.

Adelaide took control of the match, and in the 75th minute, Kikianis capitalized on a loose ball to score their second goal. Anselmo then sealed the victory in the 90th minute, outmuscling Tomislav Uskok to tap in Yaya Dukuly’s cross, bringing the final score to 3-1. This win places Adelaide United third on the ladder, with a chance to secure second place in the upcoming final round, while Macarthur Bulls are left reeling from their 10th loss of the season, sitting ninth in the standings.