The A-League Men (ALM) club was shoved into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons in May when now-former players Ulises Davila, Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus were arrested over an alleged bet-fixing ring.
But the Bulls put that drama behind them by beating Melbourne Victory 1-0 in front of a hostile crowd of 13,289 Â at AAMI Park on Sunday night.
With their second Australia Cup title, Macarthur claimed a 2025 Asian Champions League 2 spot.
Bulls recruit Marin Jakolis scored the winner in the 58th minute, while Filip Kurto starred, becoming the first goalkeeper to win the Mark Viduka Medal.Â
Box-to-box in just 3 passes ⚡🤯— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) @mfcbulls take the lead with a fast move from the back as Jakolis easily finishes for the visitors 🥅 🎥 @10FootballAU #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup #MVCvMAC pic.twitter.com/wrbYdTXN12September 29, 2024
"It's been a tough off-season, so it means a lot," Sterjovski said.
"Everyone at the club - the players, the staff, the office staff - they've been working tirelessly to make the club better and to try and move forward from everything.Â
"To win the Australia Cup and to qualify for Asia means a lot to everybody involved.
"We kind of leave the past behind and we have to move forward. It was a bit of a difficult period, but everybody in the club managed to get through it."
Kurto added: "It's good that we showed that we've left all the problems off the pitch.Â
"We focused on our job. As you see, it's worked."
Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo's decision to leave Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani out of his squad backfired.
The club's official line was Arzani was left out because he is suspended for their round-one ALM grand final rematch against Central Coast, and Kisnorbo had wanted to test players available for that game.
Melbourne Victory's Daniel Arzani (right) watched the Australia Cup final from the stands. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)
"It was just my decision. It was a selection decision that I chose," Kisnorbo said.
"Come round one he won't be in the game either, because he's suspended. We sort of had to be ready for that scenario, and I decided to do it today."
Asked if there had been a falling-out during the week, Kisnorbo said: "No.
"The issue isn't about Daniel, the issue is about the team - and it's about the team tonight, not an individual."
The winger's creativity was sorely missed as Macarthur scored on the counter, then sat deep.
Kisnorbo labelled their performance "dominant" but was left to rue Victory's failure to score despite having 22 shots to Macarthur's six.
The Jakolis winner was Macarthur's only shot on target, compared with Victory's six.
Macarthur's Marin Jakolis (left) scored the only goal in the Australia Cup final against Victory. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)
Victory were incensed when Kasey Bos didn't receive a penalty from referee Jonathan Barreiro after he was cut down by Kealey Adamson in the 18th minute.
There is no VAR in the Australia Cup.
"What I think is that the referees rely on it (VAR) so much that the doubt goes in their mind - end of the day they have to make a decision right there and then, because there's no VAR in the Cup, right?" Kisnorbo said.Â
"With this, when you see it on the replay, it's very, very clear, very clear.Â
"But the ref didn't see it like that in maybe normal time - I don't know, you'd have to ask him."
Victory play Central Coast away in their ALM opener on October 18, with Macarthur hosting Perth two days later.
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