Sydney United 58 FC have become the first National Premier League club to reach the Australia Cup final, stunning Brisbane Roar with an extra-time 3-2 semi-final triumph.
A superb volley from United’s Glen Trifiro in the 105th minute was the match-winner against the A-League’s Roar in Sunday’s semi.
United will play the October 1 cup final against the winner of Wednesday’s night’s semi-final between the NPL’s Oakleigh Cannons and A-League’s Macarthur FC.
United twice came from a goal down against the Roar, ensuring a slice of history as the first non A-League club to reach a cup final since the competition’s inception in 2014.
“You can see how much it means to our proud club,” Trifiro told Network 10 amid wild celebrations among the 3,177-strong crowd at Sydney United Sports Centre.
“This is huge for our club … we march on.”
Trifiro’s extra-time winner came after an audacious mid-air side-heel flick from teammate Chris Payne played him into space.
Trifiro swung a sweet volley into the net, capping a remarkable comeback from a club which finished a lowly eighth in NSW’s NPL this year.
The Roar went ahead in 13th minute when Riku Danzaki scored from close-range after a slick cut-back pass from Henry Hore.
But United hit back in the 24th minute when they turned their first foray into their attacking area into an equaliser from Matt Bilic, who scored with a powerful header after a pinpoint cross from Taisei Kaneko.
The opening half finished on a flashpoint: Brisbane were awarded a penalty when United defender Jordan Roberts was struck on the hand trying to evade a Charlie Austin cross.
Roar captain Jay O’Shea’s shot was saved by United goalkeeper Danijel Nizic, diving full-stretch to his left, leaving scores locked 1-1 at halftime.
Nizic couldn’t prevent Brisbane taking a 2-1 lead in the 63rd minute when the Roar’s English import Austin scored from the penalty spot.
Austin crashed his spot-kick high and straight, giving Nizic no chance, after Brisbane’s Hore was felled in the box by a mistimed challenge from United’s Kaneko.
But the Roar’s lead was short-lived with United again squaring scores just eight minutes later via substitute Patrick Antelmi.
Antelmi turned some 15 metres from goal and fired a left-footer which deflected off the lower leg of Roar’s Anton Mlinaric into the net.
The 2-2 scoreline remained until fulltime, setting up Trifiro’s dramatic extra-time winner.
Ferno
Guest
English cup runs at the same time of EPL and european cups. It makes sense save your players of some games and play the cup with alternative squad. But I can see a reason for australian teams not playing the cup at full gears. It is the only thing happening in football for months.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I hadn't thought of it that way. Certainly when they started Roar Academy made it pretty clear that they weren't out to win leagues, but rather develop players. I haven't been to a youth match for a couple of seasons, but Roar teams have a lot of kids playing above their age group, so Under 16's looks bare because the kids are playing U18s. That's why their senior academy team doesn't get relegated or play Australia Cup. It's a vastly different philosophy to the NPL clubs. Some A League clubs are obviously different, but that's my understanding of Roar. They don't always pick the best players (look at those they've released), they look at potential, and other traits as much I believe.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
you can see them anytime Micko, I watch more NPL and FQPL than ever at present.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I only really flag it as I am always astounded that the A League teams do not dominate these younger age groups. They have the pick of the absolute cream of the crop to select 16 players. They have also got access to all TDs in feeder clubs and years of tracking kids before they get to that selection age. I know it is not a science, and sometimes they get it wrong, but we are really starting to see that A league clubs are missing talent that either have been dismissed, or not recognized for whatever reason. Volpato and the Kuol boys a re the most high profile in recent times. They have a responsibility to the rest of the playing fraternity to ensure they are picking the absolute best and brightest.
Ante
Guest
You can put yourself in the 90% of people that don't know what it stands for. So the supporters who made the banner don't know what EP stands for but you, someone not affiliated with the club does know?
WMM
Guest
Andy, you’re not Serbian by any chance PMSL
Grem
Roar Rookie
Glad you’re back! When you can’t win by skill due to pre season or whatever then you need to win by grit. I think Sydney FC needed to show more grit (as well as organisation) against Oakleigh last week and I was disappointed in their loss too.
jbinnie
Guest
Brainstrust - You really let it all hang out here. This Roar team was one described by a learned scribe as, an NPL club, run by NPL thinkers, using NPL players. This is exactly what you are saying in this comment and there is little to suggest things have changed that much from recent years. You single out certain players when in fact if a player is not playing well enough to be in a winning team he should not be selected in the first place. If that player keeps appearing week in week out the focus must then change to the coach and the question asked, does he, the coach, know what is required to play full time professional football ?. Roar are not a good side, they don't play as a team and are totally dependent on certain players performing to win points against other teams in the ALM. Take these players .like Aldred and Neville, out of the line up and bells start to ring. Young players need these old heads around them if they are to improve and to see Hingert still being used as a late sub, begs an explanation. I could go on but it is obvious you and I are on the same train and all we can hope for is that common sense will prevail and the Roar philosophy changes sooner than later. Cheers jb.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. Mind you I like seeing all these suburban/regional stadiums/grounds whilst watching the Ten broadcast. Would presumably be seeing a lot less of this in future if you get your way. :unhappy:
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA They are also very quick to use the law when questioned.... The issue is not so much what they do or say as its legal.... However what they do will never ever and never was going to get mainstream community support and acceptance..... but because we lack any real size and strength they tend to be a large club and protected by decades of SBS media endorsement...
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Draw, first drawn, coin, whatever. If you are serious about a national competition, no one team should gain an automatic advantage because they are inferior.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I like the NPL advantage in this regard. Or do you think it should be first drawn/flip of a coin to decide the home team?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
when they played at Redcliffe their away fans did the same, flares and pitch invasion (breaking a fence in the process).
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
home ground advantage would need to be addressed
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
How did they turn the season around? They finished eighth on the table. They were about the same position at the end of the season. The same Sydney United fans? There was hardly anyone there when they played the NPL match.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Not just afl fans, Fuss argued with nearly everyone who didn't support Victory, but they were his favourite.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thanks SWD.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Not entirely accurate Lion. U13s with 2 games to play best they can finish is 3rd. 14s with 3 games to play could finish top, but will have a hard fought games vs Rochdale that may see them just reach 2nd. 15s have it in the bag! 16s currently sitting 6th with 3 games to play will be lucky to finish 3rd, but may only end up end up 4th or 5th. 18th are top with 2 to play, but Strikers are right on their heels.
At work
Roar Rookie
I couldn't imagine anything worse then playing on a synthetic pitch and going in for a sliding challenge.
Marcel
Guest
I was thinking that strategically the Cows could use a leg up with the season just about to start. AusStadiums claims Edensor can hold 12k....if there was only 3k there yesterday then 10-12 at a final would be just electric wouldnt it! I've never played on a plastic pitch...how much of a home advantage is that ?