AFC Champions League Two
Kristian Popovic had given Mile Sterjovski’s side the lead in the 56th minute and, although Sai Erjiniao had levelled the scores three minutes later, it was Sawyer’s spot kick after a foul on Luke Vickery that earned Macarthur their fourth win in six matches in the group phase.
The Australians move onto 13 points from their six matches to finish ahead of Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi with both clubs booking their places in the last 16 while Beijing finish in third place in the group.
The Chinese Super League side had already been eliminated prior to kick-off but Zhang Xizhe almost claimed the opener for the hosts in the 18th minute with his rising shot flying over Alexander Robinson’s crossbar from 20 yards out.
Zhang Yuning went closer nine minutes later when he worked the ball onto his left foot on the edge of the penalty area, but his curling shot was collected by Robinson as the goalkeeper threw himself to his right.
It took until the 30th minute for Macarthur to threaten when Will McKay delivered a looping cross from the right to Bernardo Oliveira and his attempt was blocked by Zhang Jianzhi as he spread himself to keep out the forward’s low shot from close range.
Eleven minutes into the second half, the visitors took the lead. Popovic peeled away from his marker as Anthony Caceres delivered his corner from the left and the defender met the set-piece at the angle of the six-yard box, glancing a header beyond Zhang Jianzhi.
Beijing’s response was immediate, Sai Erjiniao clipping the outside of Robinson’s right post as the Macarthur defence backtracked.
By the 59th minute the home side were level, Sai applying the finishing touch from the edge of the six yard box when he steered Feng Boxuan’s centre from the right into the visitors’ goal with his thigh.
Macarthur, however, were presented with the opportunity to reclaim the lead when Bai Yang hauled Vickery down in the penalty area with 19 minutes to go and Sawyer converted as he confidently sent Zhang Jianzhi the wrong way.
Zane Helweh rattled the Beijing crossbar with a curling effort three minutes from time and Zhang Jianzhi kept out Callum Talbot’s attempt a minute later while Bai was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the dying seconds of the game.
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