Michael Ruhs scored the match-winner just nine minutes after coming on as Western United defeated Sydney FC 4-3 in a wild affair at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Adrian Segecic netted his first-ever brace but it wasn’t enough for the star-studded Sky Blues to avoid their second loss in as many games, while John Aloisi’s side earned their upset victory, winning for just the second time in 2024-25.
United had gone ahead after a bounce inside the six-yard area favoured Noah Botic who slotted into an empty net, before Segecic equalised with his first A-League strike in over two years.
Segecic doubled his money with another quality finish following good work from Anas Ouahim but goals from Abel Walatee and Rhys Bozinovski saw the visitors regain the lead, then a captain’s header from Rhyan Grant levelled the contest once more.
A draw was looking likely until the fresh legs of Ruhs got the substitute around his man and he finished cooly past Andrew Redmayne to seal all three points.
Despite splashing the cash in the transfer market on quality foreigners, led by Douglas Costa, Sydney sit in seventh place on the A-League ladder after a quarter of the season.
Segecic made the most out of his third start of the season, buzzing around in midfield and making the most of two good chances to get the Sky Blues level and then into the ascendancy late in the first half.
After spending last season on loan in Holland, Ufuk Talay’s off-season visa signings meant a starting berth would be far from guaranteed on the 20-year-old’s return to Allianz Stadium. Along with some game time in continental play, Segecic has seen decent minutes in the A-League and has given his manager another headache for the trip to Coopers Stadium on Friday.
“I thought Sega had a good game,” Talay said.
“I just thought he ran out of legs in the second half but overall I thought he played well tonight.”
Having represented Australia at multiple junior levels, the academy product is building towards a senior call-up but will need consistent game time.
This is the third straight A-League game Max Burgess has not even made the match day squad – and while the midfielder was named on the bench for Sydney’s most recent ACL 2 victory over Kaya FC, he remained there all evening despite Ufuk Talay playing basically a youth team.
While Sydney are surely pleased with their midfield academy products’ development, considering there are no lingering issues hampering the 29-year-old, it’s difficult to think that Burgess’ play does not even merit a bench spot in the last few weeks.
Sydney FC’s Max Burgess. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“At the moment he’s training, fit and available,” Talay said when asked why Burgess had missed out again.
“A decision is made – I pick a team, or a squad, that I think is going to do well. Max is working hard and just needs to continue to work hard. No, there’s no (disciplinary issue).”
As mentioned by Daniel McBreen earlier this week, there are plenty of other A-League clubs who could use a player of Burgess’ ilk, and the January window is only a couple of weeks away.
Macarthur have experienced an inconsistent start to the 2024-25 campaign after their second Australia Cup triumph in September but in Saturday’s opening game, Mile Sterjovski’s side left Sky Stadium with their first win in four games.
Dean Bosnjak sealed the three points after Kosta Barbarouses’ strike late in the first half cancelled out captain Valere Germain’s early opening goal. Quality saves from ex-Phoenix gloveman Filip Kurto either side of half-time were vital to the win.
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