AAP Soccer

Bulls coach queries VAR after substitute spoils victory

Jan 18, 2026

Sabit Ngor. — Sabit Ngor has snatched a point for the troubled Mariners in a 1-1 draw with Macarthur. -AAP Image

Macarthur coach Mile Sterjovski has directly questioned VAR after a controversial call led to a game-defining goal in the Bulls' 1-1 draw with the embattled Central Coast.

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Mariners' substitute Sabit Ngor scored a 77th-minute equaliser after he found himself clear inside the box, touched the ball past goalkeeper Filip Kurto and shot through the legs of defender Matt Jurman.

But the goal underwent VAR inspection after Macarthur's young gun Luke Vickery went down inside Central Coast's box before the Mariners rushed upfield and scored at Polytec Stadium on Sunday.

Ngor's goal was given the green light after the review and it left Sterjovski fuming.

"We spend a lot of money on VAR and .... in my opinion, I feel like they get a lot of decisions wrong," he said.

"I feel they should just leave it up to the referees, because it (VAR) just leaves everyone more frustrated.

"We dominated most of the game, created enough chances to win, and then the goal we conceded, I really felt like it was a penalty for us."

The goal put a sour note on Australia striker Mitch Duke's much-anticipated A-League Men homecoming, after he signed with the Bulls in a bid to reignite his World Cup campaign.

In his first A-League match since 2021, the 50-cap Socceroo changed the contest after coming on midway through the second half, assisting Vickery's lone goal with a classy back heel in the 67th minute.

But just as Macarthur looked to have a stranglehold on the contest, Ngor scored in a moment of elation for the Mariners after a challenging week off the field.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) assumed control of Central Coast on an interim basis last Tuesday after chairman Mike Charlesworth announced he would forfeit the side's participation agreement following a collapse in the changeover of management.

"It's been a long, tough week for the club as a whole, but what we showed today was that the club has a lot of spirit, fight, and resilience," coach Warren Moon said.

"The point was probably fair in the end, but we certainly had some moments."

Sunday's draw lifts the Mariners off the foot of the A-League Men's ladder while the Bulls move up to sixth spot.

Macarthur will also sweat on the fitness of right winger Bernardo Oliveira after a suspected hamstring injury in the 73rd minute.

The match was postponed from Saturday after torrential rain lashed Gosford.