Rising Star Breaks Year-Long Goal Drought as City Climbs the Ladder with Victory Over Bulls

Max Caputo, a graduate from the Melbourne City academy, broke his year-long goal drought with a brace in a 2-0 victory over Macarthur Bulls on Friday night, propelling City from fifth to second place in the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.

Caputo hadn’t found the back of the net in the league since March 2024, but he ended that dry spell with a precise finish from a tight angle during the first half.

The 19-year-old added a second goal in the 74th minute, converting a penalty after Tomislav Uskok was penalised for a handball in the box following a long-range strike from City defender Kai Trewin.

Macarthur began the season as strong contenders for a finals berth, but the loss of key attackers Valere Germain, Jed Drew, and Ariath Piol midway through the campaign has hindered head coach Mile Sterjovski’s offensive options in recent weeks. The Bulls currently find themselves in eighth place, five points adrift of the finals spots, having suffered four defeats in their last five matches.

Marco Tilio had a promising opportunity just before the half-hour mark when his volley from the edge of the box was effectively blocked by Bulls midfielder Jake Hollman.

Despite the lack of significant chances during the opening half hour, City dominated play at AAMI Park, which eventually led to the first goal when Caputo netted his first goal of the 2024-25 season.

Fellow academy graduate Kavian Rahmani provided the assist, sending a precise ball to Caputo at the near post, where he delivered an inventive finish into the far corner.

“That’s a splendid goal, crafted in the Melbourne City academy!” exclaimed Network 10 commentator Simon Hill.

“Two young talents coming together. It’s Max Caputo’s first goal of the season, his first in a year since scoring against the Wanderers last March, and City have their just rewards for their dominance.”

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On the Network 10 half-time show, A-League legend Archie Thompson expressed amazement at Caputo’s ability to convert the opening goal from such a tight angle.

“It was an incredibly difficult chance to score from,” Thompson said.

“I can’t believe how he generated that power to dink it in and find the far post… what a finish.”

Macarthur nearly equalised just moments later when Samuel Souprayen was dispossessed during a driving run through midfield. Hollman’s cross found Marin Jakolis inside the six-yard box, but his half-volley was stunningly saved by Patrick Beach, with the offside flag coming to Jakolis’ rescue.

Caputo came close to adding to his tally shortly after, but Filip Kurto’s superb goalkeeping kept the young striker at bay in a one-on-one situation.

As half-time approached, City won a free-kick in a promising position, but Andreas Kuen’s attempt had Kurto rooted to the spot as the ball whizzed dangerously close to the bottom-left corner, only to miss the post.

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After receiving a yellow card earlier, Caputo flirted with trouble in first-half stoppage time when he caught Bulls defender Matthew Jurman with a high elbow during an aerial challenge. Fortunately for Caputo, he escaped a second booking just as the half-time whistle blew, leaving his side ahead 1-0 courtesy of his 34th-minute goal.

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Mathew Leckie believed he had increased City’s lead in the second half, but his close-range header was ruled out after a foul on Bulls defender Jurman that allowed Leckie space to challenge for the ball unopposed.

As the 70th minute approached, City held onto their slender lead until a shot from outside the box by Kai Trewin struck the arm of Macarthur centre-back Uskok.

Initially, referee Ben Abraham did not penalise Uskok for the handball, but VAR intervened, advising the on-field referee to review the incident via the pitchside monitor.

Upon returning to the field, Abraham changed his mind and awarded City a penalty, which Caputo confidently slotted into the bottom-left corner to secure his brace and double his team’s advantage.

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City keeper Beach had been largely untested through the first 75 minutes, but when Luke Brattan delivered an inventive free-kick to Jakolis at the edge of the box, Beach was called into action. He leapt to his right to parry Jakolis’ curling effort away from danger, maintaining his clean sheet.