Wellington Phoenix have taken a step towards rediscovering last season’s winning momentum with a hard-fought 1-0 FFA Cup victory over Central Coast Mariners, while Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers also advanced to the last 16 on Tuesday.
The final matchday in the round resulted in the elimination of Newcastle Jets who were toppled on penalties by the Glory, while Brisbane Roar suffered a 1-0 loss to the Wanderers.
It was a tale of two goalkeepers in Gosford as Phoenix edged out a new-look Mariners side with a lone first-half goal from Kwabena Appiah. The former Wanderers attacker took just 20 minutes to score on debut for his new club after dispossessing Mariners goalkeeper Paul Izzo who hesitated after receiving a routine backpass.
At the other end of the field Phoenix keeper Glen Moss made several key saves, while the Mariners spurned a late opportunity as former English Premier League striker Roy O’Donovan crashed a penalty against the frame of the goal.
Newcastle Jets seemed set for a perfect start under new coach Scott Miller until the Glory’s Sidnei Sciola equalised with a close-range header three minutes from the end to push the game into extra time.
And the visiting Perth took the lead for the first time just two minutes after the restart in Broadmeadow as Nebojsa Marinkovic, who set up Sciola’s goal, coolly netted from the penalty spot.
Newcastle had earlier taken a first-half lead through a typically sweet David Carney strike, with the former Socceroo playing his first match since January after being exiled from the squad under former coach Phil Stubbins.
The Jets also had a Labinot Haliti goal chalked off for a controversial offside. However, Haliti eventually got on the scoresheet drawing the Jets level in the dying minutes of extra time to force penalties where Glory goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson made three saves to help last year’s cup finalists advance.
At Penrith in western Sydney the Wanderers overcame a slow first half showing to prevail against Brisbane.
Golgol Mebrahtu netted the only goal of the game with 20 minutes remaining, and Mark Bridge could have extended the winning margin but his late penalty was saved by Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young.
The final match of the evening saw Melbourne-based Oakleigh Cannons edge out Far North Queensland 5-4 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw.
Jamie Gosling equalised with a speculative long-range effort in the final minute for the Queenslanders after Jamie Piemonte had scored with a stunning strike early during extra time.
Matthew Pittard
Guest
Couldnt find the Jets V Glory game on Foxtel... someone told it was streaming but I couldnt find that out till after the game had finished. We looked a little lacking in the striker department so this new Dutch guy should be just what we need.
Brendan Kilpatrick
Roar Rookie
Would love to see FoxSports take a chance and see how Heidelberg v Sydney Utd go for viewer numbers by giving them the televised game
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Why the heck is this awaiting moderation!!!!!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Was there as well. Game started slowly but built up into a pretty even contest. Could have gone either way really. The first goal was a dead ball screamer and the second resulted from an awkward bounce off the pitch that evaded the goalie. A good nights entertainment.
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Went to the Oakleigh game. Was good fun and a nice spectacle. Took a while for the goals to come but there was some close chances. An excellent Free Kick Also, baing able to have Foxtel Go on your phone is fantastic for watching replays and finding out other results while in an obscure Suburban Football Ground :) Getting irritated at all of MV's away matches. Lol there will be so much pent up desire to attend a game that MV fans will probably end up swamping a Vic ground as soon as we get a nearby game For the next round i will attend the nearby game in Heidleberg for sure. Shame it's not against a HAL side. Maybe the Hume game
MatthewSkellett
Guest
Good to see WSW get Palm Beach -should be a good game :-)
At work
Roar Rookie
Damn it, we got Adelaide again. Hope we put a stronger squad on the park compared to the Sorrento game. I'll look forward to these games: Heidelberg v Syd United Rockdale v MVFC
AZ_RBB
Guest
Round of 16 Adelaide v SFC MelbCity v Phoenix Heidelberg v Syd United Hume City Syd Olympic Metrostars v Oakleigh Lions v Glory Rockdale v MVFC Palm Beach v WSW Team mentioned first playing at home or at least close to home.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Alright no more PFA/FFA talk please. Round of 16 draw comes out in 5mins.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Haliti, Poljak and Watson all had good games for the Jets. Newcastle dominated most the game and should have won it. be interesting to see who/whether the FFA will fork out for as a 9 & 10 for the jets, because that little bit of quality is all they need. Blows me away that Hoffman can still play in A-League and be incapable of using his left foot.
At work
Roar Rookie
Anybody heard on the outcome of the Wanderers new player who limped off late with a knee injury. Hope the knee knock with Broich was nothing more than short term pain, would hate to lose a potentially quality player before the season even starts. And what's with Mark Bridge continuing to get game time, that penalty take was so weak. Maybe he's a top bloke and good for the team morale, but he has shown for a long while he is certainly not deadly in front of goal.
Josh
Guest
Daniel is still a little raw but I would love to see him stay at WSW.
144
Roar Guru
Great game by my st.josephs college mate DANIEL ALESSI. slotted in at Centre-back did the business got the reward. Also unfortunate penalty miss by Bridge and mariners O'Donovan.
Lionheart
Guest
You've got to feel for the Cairns side, FNQ Heat. Unpaid, they travelled from the heat of Cairns to the cold of Vic just hours before the match to minimise time away from work for their players. They fought hard and scored a late equaliser only to lose on penalties. Given the massive away disadvantage they carried into the game, they deserve to be acclaimed as victors if not in fact, then in spirit. Well done Heat.