Photo: Anita Milas/Goal Weekly
Green Gully wrote their names into the FFA Cup history books after becoming only the second NPL outfit to knock out A-League opposition with a 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners.
The presence of #MagicOfTheCup was felt all around Keilor, if not nationally, when Liam Boland found a loose ball 40-yards out, then lobbing the ball over the helpless Ivan Necevski for a 91st minute winner.
“I needed to do something, I was having a stinker in the second half,” joked Boland post-game.
“I’ve tried it a few times in the league and come close, but for it to come off on the national stage, I’m pretty happy it came off tonight.
“The ball fell out to me and I saw Ivan Necevski off his line and immediately I backed myself and just went for it.
“I hit it pretty flat and I was stoked, I knew as soon as I hit it. I’m just so happy with the boys, we believed all week and it’s pretty crazy to be honest.”
The home side appeared to have early control of the fixture, before Mariners forward Blake Powell pounced on defensive miscommunication within the Gully backline, putting his maiden goal away after only 15 minutes.
The nine-time Victorian Champions had their fair share of openings to regain control of the match, with numerous long shots tipped over by debutant Necevski.
Jay Davies was a standout in the middle of the park, both his haircut and his play style resembling that of Aaron Ramsey.
The midfielder darted up and down the pitch, creating havoc and openings and was also given a handful of opportunities to equalise.
Daniel Jones controversially pulled a much deserved goal back after sliding through a shot in the box, although the 85th minute effort wasn’t without it’s controversy.
While it was the centre-back that wheeled away in celebration, Boland confirmed that the initial shot was directed into the back of the net via his kneecap from an offside position.
“It was definitely offside, I can’t say that too often but I’m glad that it happened now,” Boland said.
“It did hit me on the knee, but we’ll give it to Jonesy.”
It was fortuitous, but no more than Gully deserved for a resolute performance in the face of their more highly-fancied opponents.
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Across the Western Highway, Bentleigh Greens consolidated on recent results to triumph against South Australian heavyweights North Eastern MetroStars on penalties in a 3-3 goal-fest.
A calm finish from Chris Lucas sent the visitor’s spirits wild only 26 minutes into the fixture, sending his team into the change rooms at half-time on a positive note.
Christian Esposito levelled the scores in the 56th minute in what ultimately laid the foundations for both outfits to lay everything on the line.
Former Northcote City man Liam Wooding earned a second yellow card in the 76th minute, which handed Bentleigh a man advantage, soon turning that into a goal advantage through Luke Pilkington, who had appeared to brush the home team aside and run away with the fixture.
However, the FFA Cup couldn’t go without late drama as MetroStars’ Terry Theodorou waited until the 95th minute to add an extra 30 to the clock.
Troy Ruthven intelligently slotted a low and solid 97th minute free-kick, merely creeping in at the right post – before Travis Dodd sent the home faithful into hysteria as he slotted home a tap-in setup for him at the back post.
The 10-men of MetroStars were run over in the penalty shootout, Ruthven netting the nail in the coffin to prevail 4-3 on penalties.
Both outfits eagerly anticipate their next combatant in the FFA Cup; given the Cavaliers’ efforts, no fixture will be too far out of reach for the Victorians.