Melbourne City stumble in A-League draw with Macarthur FC

A horror defensive lapse has stalled Melbourne City's A-League push as Macarthur came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at Campbelltown Stadium.

The league leaders -- fresh off a 7-0 win that ultimately cost Melbourne Victory coach Grant Brebner his job -- found goals much harder to come by in Sydney's west and then paid dearly for some sloppy marking.

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Up 1-0 and seemingly with the game under control, a Scott Jamieson throw-in near the Bulls' goal precipitated a series of events in the 77th minute the visitors will quickly want to forget.

Jamieson's one-two with substitute Marco Tilio didn't work out so well, Denis Genreau stealing the ball and scooting down the sideline.

It should have ended when Tilio did well to recover the ball but Kerrin Stokes made a meal of a relatively straightforward pass before Bulls sub Michael Ruhs picked up the crumbs and beat goalkeeper Tom Glover to level the match.

The Bulls dominated much of the remaining play as they looked to snatch a win. But with 27 goals in their previous eight games, the City sharpshooters weren't quite done, Connor Metcalfe hitting the cross bar in their best remaining chance of the clash.

Earlier City had gone ahead with some of the finishing that has marked them as the standout attacking team of the competition.

Jamieson delivered a pinpoint long to Jamie Maclaren on the left wing and he backheeled for Craig Noone who delivered a sharp cross for Metcalfe to drive home a low left foot volley in the 59th minute.

It had all followed a largely defence-orientated first half with few chances for either side.

The best fell to Maclaren, who with 19 goals already looks like the competition's Golden Boot winner.

The Socceroo wound up with only goalkeeper Adam Federici to beat in the 19th minute but shot disappointingly wide.