Port Melbourne Sharks and Northcote City each made history on Wednesday evening when they both qualified for the FFA Cup national Round of 32 for the first time.

Both teams had to overcome promotion challenging NPL 2 teams to qualify.

Northcote City eventually broke down the stubborn resistance of Altona Magic thanks to a late Danny Dixon brace, to run out 2-0 winners away at Paisley Park.

The Sharks won an epic seven goal thriller 4-3 at home against a gallant Moreland Zebras which looked more than capable of upsetting the home team. Three times the Zebras took the lead, (including twice in normal regulation time) only for the Sharks to peg them back on each occasion before taking the lead for the first time in the 111th minute.

In fact, at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, the Zebras led 2-1 and the Sharks were headed for an FFA Cup exit. But an injury time own goal by Zebras defender Jacob Williams, under desperate Sharks pressure, saved the home team.

The match began with the Zebras on the front foot and they took a deserved lead in the 18th minute through a long range strike from midfield playmaker Joshua McMonagle-Ihasz. The Sharks were able to capitalise on an errant Zebras’ pass in the 39th minute and equalise through striker James Papadimitriou who scored from the edge of the Dee.

Port lost playmaker and leading goalscorer Konagaya to injury at half-time, when torrential rain descended on JL Murphy reserve. It didn’t seem to bother Zebras’ striker Alec Goodwin, who fired his team into the lead in the 66th minute with a shot from outside the box.

Port could make few inroads into the disciplined Zebras defence and as the match slipped into injury time, the Sharks were staring at an FFA Cup exit. With moments remaining, centre back Perry Lambropoulos won the ball in the opposition half, picked out fellow defender Michael Eager in the box, whose low, hard cross resulted in the equaliser when turned into his own net by Zebra defender Williams.

Williams was able to atone for his own goal early in extra time by heading his side into the lead for the third time on the night, only for Port’s sub Sam Smith to tap in yet another Sharks’ equaliser following good approach work by Khamal Ibrahim and Feston Azizi.

With the sides locked at 3-3 and headed to a penalty shoot-out, the Zebras conceded an unnecessary free kick on Port’s left flank in the attacking third. Ibrahim’s free kick was met by Port midfielder Daniel Clark who headed the ball into the back of the net to put Port in front for the first time and give them passage into the Rd of 32.

Port’s triumph means it joins Northcote City, Bentleigh Greens, Heidelberg United, Avondale and the two Melbourne A-League clubs, City and Victory as the seven Victorian clubs to qualify for the Rd of 32. Port also progresses to the semifinals of the Dockerty Cup along with Northcote City and Bentleigh Greens. The Bergers and Avondale will play-off to decide the remaining semifinalist.

In other FFA Cup qualifying action on Wednesday, Sydney Olympic bowed out of the Cup when they lost 3-0 to high flying Apia Leichardt at Belmore. An undermanned Olympic gave a good account of themselves in the first half before being outplayed in the second half.

Further north, Brisbane’s Olympic FC is one win away from the FFA Cup Rd of 32 after knocking out the Moreton Bay Jets 3-2 on Wednesday evening thanks to a hat-trick by debutante Alex Smith.