Last season’s FFA Cup quarterfinalists Heidelberg United FC was one of the bigger casualties of the midweek round of FFA Cup qualifiers.
The cup tie against neighbouring NPL 1 club Hume City loomed as a potential banana skin to the Bergers. And so it proved despite the Bergers leading three times during the game. They were unable to shake free of the resilient visitors, which managed to claw back the lead each time before overtaking the Bergers in extra time to eventually triumph 5-4 in what will be remembered as a famous victory.
Harry Noon and Tom Cahill gave the Bergers the ideal start each scoring inside the first 15 minutes, before Hume’s Marco Delic capitalized on a weak Berger’s back pass to pull one back for the visitors. Hume’s Steven Hewitt then levelled the scores at the 36 minute mark. A second Cahill goal gave the home team the lead again just after the break before gale force winds and rain sent spectators rushing for cover. However that wasn’t enough to stop Hume’s Hewitt from equalizing once more in the 83rd minute sending the match into extra time. Bergers’ sub Lucas Derrick then struck to give the Bergers a 4-3 lead in the first half of extra time but Hume were not to be beaten and equalized through Gideon Sweet before another defensive mix up by the Bergers allowed Hume’s Theo Markelis to score the match winner to the delight of the travelling Hume City fans.
The fatigued Bergers were left to lick their wounds with skipper Luke Byles and fellow defender Les Doumbalis both substituted with what looked like injuries. With only a short turnaround till their next league match, and together with the absence of regular keeper Chris Theodoridis away on his honeymoon, and regular full back Josh Wilkins trialling with Central Coast Mariners, the Bergers’ depth will surely be tested in their crucial top of the table league clash with undefeated Avondale on Saturday.
Whilst the Bergers exited the Cup earlier than expected, the most successful NPL club in the history of the Cup, Bentleigh Greens, goes marching on even if it had to wait till the 93rd minute to find a winner in a 1-0 away win to neighbours Kingston City at the Grange on Tuesday evening. A –League bound winner Valentino Yuel scored a second match winning goal for the Greens in the space of five days to give the injury depleted Greens a hard fought win.
Good news too for Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne fans after both teams qualified for the next round by winning their midweek cup ties albeit in contrasting styles. The Cannons cruised to a 4-1 home win over North Geelong Warriors aided by a red card to the Warriors late in the first half.
South did it the hard way with a 1-0 away win over State league outfit Doveton SC thanks to a 70th minute Billy Konstantinidis header. South keeper Nikola Roganovic also played his part denying Doveton a late equalizer by saving a spot kick.
Elsewhere, the fairy-tale run in the cup ended for State League 5 club Waverley Wanderers which lost 2-6 to Langwarrin whilst Brunswick City’s run also came to an end with a 2-0 loss to fellow NPL 2 West club Werribee City.
Canberra Olympic’s cup run finished early too with a 1-0 loss to Canberra FC.
The news was better for N NSW side Hamilton Olympic which scored an emphatic 6-1 win over neighbours Hamilton Azzuri to progress to the next round.
Following the midweek matches, the Round 6 FFA Cup draw for Victorian teams took place.
RD 6 Draw: For Dates, Venues and Times see FFA.COM.AU
1. Hume City v Bentleigh Greens
2. FC Bulleen Lions v Northcote City FC
3. Eltham Redbacks v Altona Magic SC
4. Geelong SC v St Albans Sainst
5. South Melbourne FC v Langwarrin
6. Moreland Zebras v Westgate FC
7. Melbourne Knights v Avondale
8. Werribbee City v Oakleigh Cannons
