It was a match that will live long in the memories of Adelaide Olympic fans who were at the Park Football Centre in Adelaide on Wednesday night to watch Olympic’s debut appearance on the national stage in the FFA Cup Round of 32.

The Greek derby against visiting WA side Floreat Athena exceeded all expectations producing a thrilling goal fest in which Adelaide Olympic eventually triumphed 4-3 but not before trailing 2-0 at the break to goals from Floreat’s Ludovic Boi and skipper Dean Evans.

However Olympic turned the match on its head in a dramatic 10-minute spell soon after the restart, scoring three unanswered goals to reverse the lead. Forward Fausto Erba scored Olympic’s first in the 54th minute in what was to be the start of an eventful second half for him. Olympic sub Ioannis Simosis then scored the equaliser just minutes after coming on, and then three minutes later, Erba scored a wonderful go-ahead goal for Olympic when he volleyed home a Paul Espina cross. In the excitement of his goal celebration, Erba removed his shirt, forgetting he’d previously been booked. The shirt celebration earned him a second yellow forcing his team to play the remaining 25 minutes with just ten men. The match then took another couple of twists first when Floreat equalized through a Dean Evans second goal.

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However the final twist sent the match in Olympic’s favour when it was awarded a 78th minute penalty which Simosis converted for his brace and the eventual winner.

Adelaide Olympic thus progresses to the FFA Cup Round of 16, where they’ll be joined by Brisbane Olympic which also enjoyed success on Wednesday evening against a WA opponent, in Bayswater City, running out convincing 5-2 winners. Brisbane Olympic striker Chris Lucas featured heavily with a hat trick of goals, becoming the first player to notch two hat tricks in the national stage of the FFA Cup, having first achieved the feat last year when he was with the Bentleigh Greens. Besides Lucas’s goals, Alex Smith and Jez Lofthouse also scored for the Brisbane team whilst Gordon Smith and Brent Griffiths scored late goals for the visitors.

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In the Top End, Darwin Olympic were unable to replicate the feats of its more southern namesakes, succumbing 3-0 at home to Northern NSW club Edgeworth. The visitors led by two goals at the break to Oliver Smith and Aden Gardner, before Adam Cawley completed the scoring in the second half.

Other winners on the night were NPL 2 club Moreland Zebras which knocked out Bulleen Lions on penalties and Manly United which also triumphed in a penalty shoot-out, knocking out Mt Druitt Town Ranges.