From sharing the same stadium to red cards and goals galore, Sydney FC and Macarthur FC do not shy away from drama when they play each other.
This Saturday, the two teams will face off for the tenth time in their history in a crucial game for the finals race.
To celebrate this, we are asking you to test yourself at some ‘Did You Knows?’ between the Sky Blues and the Bulls to check up on your facts before the decisive game.
Did you know: Macarthur’s home ground used to be a Sydney FC home ground.
Sydney FC used to claim Campbelltown Stadium as a home venue until the Western Sydney Wanderers were introduced in 2013.
The Sky Blues played their first match against the Queensland Roar on 19 July 2008, where they featured in the 2008 A-League pre-season Challenge Cup.
They were put in a group alongside the Roar, Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix, where the winner could progress to the final. This was the tournament’s opening match, which saw the Sky Blues come back to defeat the Roar 2-1 thanks to goals by Chris Payne and Mitch Prentice.
The Sky Blues would return to Campbelltown four years later in 2012, where they would play their only home A-League game at the stadium. They took on the Perth Glory, where players such as Rhyan Grant, Terry Antonis, Scott Jamieson and Sebastian Ryall lined up. Mark Bridge scored the opener for the Sky Blues 45 minutes in, but a last-gasp attempt by Adam Hughes saw the game finish 1-1.
Eight months later, Sydney FC descended on Campbelltown once again, taking on the Macarthur Rams in a pre-season friendly. This match, however, was much different than the previous encounter with Perth, as the Sky Blues’ new coach, Ian Crook, debuted. His coaching debut for the club looked positive as the side came out firing, scoring a trio of goals in the first half. The second half was much different, though, with the Rams pressing until Sydney FC eventually caved, seeing them concede. That fixture became a stable pre-season friendly for the Sky Blues for a few seasons onwards.
In 2019, Wellington Phoenix hosted the Sky Blues in the A-League. This was Sydney FC’s final match at the stadium before Macarthur claimed it as their home in 2021. The match saw Sydney control large portions of the game. Still, despite having 15 opportunities, they could only finish one, which came through an Adam le Fondre penalty in the 65th minute. Anthony Caceres, Rhyan Grant, and Andrew Redmayne are the only remaining players featured in this fixture.
Did you know: When playing each other, the home side has never won?
No team has ever won at home in the Isuzu UTE A-League between these two sides.
The last five times the two sides have faced each other at a Sydney FC home game, they have finished with either Macarthur winning or drawing.
And, for the Sky Blues, they have won every time at Campbelltown.
Did you know: Four current Sydney FC players made their debuts against the Bulls?
Jaiden Kucharski and Jake Girdwood Reich have both debuted against the Bulls last season. After coming up from the Sydney FC academy, Jaiden Kucharski’s first A-League match came up against the Bulls, where he was subbed on in the 77th minute for Robert Mak.
He made his mark seven minutes after coming on, squaring the ball to Adrian Segecic, where he thrashed it into the roof of the net to score his first goal. During injury time, the forward linked up with fellow debutant Jake Girdwood-Reich, before the ball was saved.
Sydney FC’s centre-back also debuted in that game, coming in the 88th minute for Anthony Caceres.
Adrian Segecic also played his first professional game against Macarthur on Boxing Day in 2021, where he came in the 76th minute for Pat Wood. His only contribution was earning a free kick, which Milos Ninkovic could not convert.
Corey Hollman also made his professional debut against Macarthur in that Boxing Day game, coming on for Trent Buhagiar. He created one chance in the six minutes he was on.
Did you know: Red cards are a commonality between the sides?
In Sydney FC’s first fixture against Macarthur in 2021, 21 minutes in, Mark Milligan was handed a red card.
Since then, five fixtures have had red card involvements in eight games, where Paulo Retre, Antonis Martis, and Johnathan Asproptamitis all saw red.
For the Sky Blues, Joe Lolley was given an early Christmas present when he saw red and, most recently, Andrew Redmayne when he handballed the ball outside the box while trying to save a potential goal.
All but one occurred in the first half, and in the past three fixtures, red cards were given.
Did you know: This fixture loves a late goal?
In the past three fixtures, four goals have been scored from the 80th minute onwards, whilst two goals have been scored in the first half injury time.
The most recent goal in the 80th+ minute fell to Valerie Germain when he poked the ball past Andrew Redmayne in the 86th minute.
Robert Mak scored in the 45+1 minute last season before Bachana Arabuli converted in the same minute eight weeks later.
Did you know: Goals Galore?
In the last six fixtures in all competitions between the two sides, at least two or more goals have been scored, despite four out of the previous six matches ending in a clean sheet for one of the sides.
Last time, Sydney FC conceded two but were held to none. Similarly, in the previous fixture, Macarthur won 3-0.
The other fixtures have finished 3-2, 2-2, 3-0 and 2-0 all in the Sky Blues favour.
Match Details:
Macarthur FC vs Sydney FC Isuzu UTE A-League, Round 25 Saturday 20th April, 2024 Campbelltown Stadium, Leumeah, NSW Kick Off: 7:45PM Broadcast Live: Paramount+ and 10BOLD Tickets: Click Here
