Bentleigh Greens are the lone semi-professional club through to the FFA Cup semi-finals after ending the run of former NSL champions Adelaide City on Wednesday night.
A Jamie De Abreu winner midway through extra time got the Melbourne side over the line 2-1 after it had been staring down the barrel of elimination in the quarter-final.
Alex Rideout’s strike for Adelaide City in the 48th minute looked set to continue the cup ambitions of the club which had been shock winners over Asian Champions League finalists Western Sydney Wanderers earlier in the competition.
A near capacity crowd converged on the modest Kingston Heath Soccer Complex in Melbourne’s south-east as two little-known groups of players battled for the right to face A-League opposition in the last-four.
The only star power was on the bench with Adelaide City – three-time winners of the defunct NSL – who is coached by one-time Socceroo leading goalscorer Damien Mori.
Understandably there was little rhythm in the early stages, with both sides having ended their respective state seasons several weeks ago.
It was Adelaide, somewhat against the run of play, who went ahead as Shannon Day’s forging run ended with a decisive ball played into the penalty area, with Rideout easily converting from close range.
Thomas Love, hero of that famous win over the Wanderers, then volleyed wide when presented with a good opening.
Much of the action, however, was at the other end and Bentleigh had a glorious opportunity to equalise but De Abreu’s shot was squeezed inches wide by a slight touch from goalkeeper Ryan Veitch.
Just as the contest seemed over Bentleigh captain Wayne Wallace powered a header from a corner into the goal off the underside of the bar with two minutes remaining.
Bentleigh’s Christian Cavallo struck the crossbar early in extra time from a free-kick, while Adelaide captain Matthew Halliday had a goal correctly chalked off for offside.
The decisive moment came when the impressive De Abreu cut in from the right and powered home his shot from the edge of the penalty area after 104 minutes of play.
Bentleigh will find out the identity of their semi-final opponents when the draw is made on Friday.
Melbourne Victory failed to make it through to the semi’s, after Perth Glory smashed the local team 4-2.
In the process, Victory’s star recruit, Besart Berisha was injured, limping off the pitch with a groin injury the 43rd minute.
Source: AAP