Adelaide City set an early benchmark for FFA Cup upsets on Tuesday night with a shock 1-0 win over A-League giants Western Sydney Wanderers.
A stunning solo goal against the run of play from City midfielder Thomas Love with 15 minutes remaining left the Wanderers red-faced in what was the first FFA Cup match featuring an A-League team and a semi-professional team.
Despite several absentees, the Wanderers fielded a strong line-up and dominated large periods of the game but were unable to find a way past a resolute home defence.
The Wanderers earned 10 corners while City – who won the National Soccer League (NSL) three times during the 1980s and 90s – failed to earn a corner having only three shots on goal.
“I’m so thankful the goal went in and we are through to the next round,” said Love, who rounded numerous defenders en route to scoring his historic goal.
“I figured I may as well run with it and see what happens.
“Everyone wanted to win that match so much and we fought for each other. We knew that there was always a chance. The boys are ecstatic.”
Sydney FC needed extra time to see off the newly renamed Melbourne City 3-1 in Ballarat in a contest full of goalmouth action.
Corey Gameiro put Sydney ahead before the interval only for Nick Kalmar to restore parity midway through the second half.
Ali Abbas scored two penalties in extra time to get the Sky Blues over the line, with Jason Hoffman sent off for Melbourne.
Sydney United eased to a comfortable 4-1 home win over a disappointing Far North Queensland Heat in the first blowout scoreline of the FFA Cup to date.
The former NSL powerhouses began strongly in wet conditions with an early goal from Ante Tomelic, with Mirjan Pavlovic hitting a second-half double before the visitors scored a late consolation.
Across Sydney, another former NSL club had less fortune as Blacktown City were edged out by Melbourne’s Bentleigh Greens with the lone goal coming from David Stirton late in the first half.
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
Supposedly? Ask John Steinsholdt form the Australian Financial Review who monitors the corporate reporting of the A-League licensee holders. He is in no doubt :-)
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
lulz....
D@
Guest
They also showed the LOVE's goal in Sunrise & Seven news
clayts
Guest
Guys. Don't you know anything? WSW invented losing cup ties to sides from lower divisions. :)
j binnie
Guest
RBB -Thanks for your reasonable reply and your description made me view the video again but I found it was as I had remembered,after 3 clearing headers the ball was receIved by the WSW player who tried a first time pass to his forwards but it went almost straight to a AC defender who in turn slotted the ball forward to the young lad who took off, covering more than 40 yards at a pace that left the WSW defence ,numbering 4 or 5, running in his wake. Tony P has proved himself to me as both a player and coach and in his eyes the first error in coughing up possession was punished severely by the kid who took off at pace and showing very good close control left 4 or 5 defenders trailing in his wake.That would have ensured Tony would not be happy with the overall incident,too many errors by too many players. In signing off I'll try to answer your question. Is Tony a defensive or attack minded coach?. I don't buy into those descriptions.I look at what a team does when in possession (attacking) or trying to win possession (defending) and in his 2 year tenure at WSW I think he has proved himself very adept in both areas of the game. Cheers jb
AZ_RBB
Guest
That's terrible :( he was a great talent at WSW. Hope he isn't out for too long.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Highlights of Jets Vs Juve Josh Barresi has a suspected ruptured ACL with scans to follow.
Sydneysider
Guest
If only Bayswater City can get past the supposedly biggest club in the country, the ffa cup is set up as a theatre of dreams...Sydney FC and Sydney Olympic through to the next round, the drive bys out and South Melb nothing more than viewers from tv sets and computers like the bulk of us
AZ_RBB
Guest
Hearing that Juve have beaten Newcastle 1-0 in a closed doors friendly earlier today. Apparently Newcastle were disallowed a legitimate goal.
Midfielder
Guest
Punter Sorta 6 / 8 are what he is being developed for ...
AZ_RBB
Guest
Sad to see my favourite A-League team and favourite NPL team knocked out on the same night :(
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Punter two games were also played in Sydney. SU58 vs FNQ heat and Blacktown City vs Bentleigh Greens
SVB
Guest
To be truthful Bondy we really aren't all that good attack wise. We struggled to score against NSW state league clubs in trial matches. Never scored more than one goal. We seem to play better when our backs are against the wall. Maybe that is a good sign for the ACL game. Also we have lost several player combinations with Hersi, Polenz and a few others leaving.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I only listened to the game on the radio. It didn't seem all that different from some of performances last season. Million chances, very few or none in the back of the net.
Punter
Guest
He played a central position (no 8 maybe) not attacking midfield or holding midfield. Sort of box to box centrally.
AZ_RBB
Guest
At least one more full back is essential. Another creative mid would be nice as well. But a Polenz-esque player is desperately needed.
Bondy
Guest
Have the Wanderers been accused of throwing this match?. Due to their upcoming Champions League Semi . I'm surprised that hasn't got a run...
Terry
Guest
This was the appertiser but the main course is next week when the mariners will be knocked out in Wollongong. This will surely expose the fact that the mariners should be relocated to Wollongong - a real football town of blue collar euro immigrants and their offspring who love the game and would turn up in droves if given a team in the a league.
SVB
Guest
We need at least another 2 or 3 solid players in our squad for the season coming up. Some of the kids still aren't up to it. If we are relying on them for depth we could be in trouble later down the track.
Midfielder
Guest
Punter Amini is being developed as a 6 by his club not as a 10 we all tho he would become... and since Grellar / Culina left we have never had a ball playing 6 ... Did he play in the 6 role during the Liverpool match ...