On Wednesday Oakleigh Cannons fans were treated to one of the greatest nights in the club’s 50-year history when their boys took on Sydney FC in the quarter finals of the Australia Cup and dumped the former A-League champions with a 2-1 victory that was a shining advertisement for the world’s favourite game and the rude health of NPL Victoria .
The injury-plagued Cannons playing at their Jack Edwards Reserve stronghold, took an early lead through Wade Dekker who beat Socceroo goalkeeping hero Andrew Redmayne, to find the net just six minutes into the game.
Twenty-four minutes later, the Cannons again defied expectations when Chris Lucas bundled in their second from teammate Antony Pantazopoulos’ shot during a scrappy phase in front of the Sydney goal.
The Sydneysiders laid siege to Oakleigh and it was only in 73rd minute that a speculative Anthony Caceres chip across the Oakleigh goal found the head of Adrian Segecic who delivered the much-needed lifeline.
Barely four minutes later, however, Lucas came close to adding a second to his tally when his volley hit the Sydney post.
Despite 71 per cent possession of the ball, 600 passes to Oakleigh’s 250, Sydney could find no further reply.
The Cannons will host A-League side Macarthur in the semi final on 10 September, after the latter downed Wellington Phoenix 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Brisbane Roar who defeated Adelaide United, will face NPL side Sydney United also on 10 September. United won their place in the semi final when on Sunday they beat Peninsula Power thanks to a ninth-minute strike from defender Yianni Frangogiannis.
None of the teams have advanced this far which means that this year the Australia Cup will be lifted by a team that has never won it before.
