South defeat Lions to set up historic final with Victory
South Melbourne confirmed their place in the 2026 Hahn Australia Cup Final with a come-from-behind 3-1 win against Lions FC.
It was third time lucky for Hellas, who have not progressed beyond the semi-finals on two previous occasions.
Hellas are the third non-A-League team to make an Australia Cup Final.
The side will play their maiden Cup final against Melbourne Victory.
South Melbourne FC 3 Lions FC 1
The inspired substitution of Bul Juach made the difference for South Melbourne as they came back from a goal down to make the grand final.
The match got off to a spirited start, with both teams eager to make an early impression.
In the 20th minute, South Melbourne’s David Yoo turned neatly on the edge of the box and drove an effort narrowly wide of the right post.
The visitors struck with the opening goal less than three minutes later. Luke Broderick set off on a tricky run into the right of the box, before cutting the ball back to Jackson Hart-Phillips, who slid it into the far corner.
South Melbourne pursued a quick response to falling behind, and almost grabbed the equaliser in the 29th minute. Yoo flicked it through to Jacob Eliopoulos in the right of the area, but the defender blasted his shot off-target.
Moments later, Yoo whipped a right-sided corner on top of Lions’ goalkeeper Jacson Riley, who was forced to slap the ball onto his own crossbar.
Lions held off Hellas’ first-half pressure to take a one-goal lead into halftime.
The hosts wasted little time in getting back into the contest after the break, and equalised within eight minutes following the restart. Yoo latched onto a through-ball and picked out Bul Juach in the box, with the substitute striker making no mistake from close range.
Two minutes later, Lions almost went back in front through Finn Beakhurst, but Hellas goalkeeper Javier Lopez repelled the attacker’s curling shot.
South Melbourne completed their turnaround by the hour mark, and it was Juach again playing the role of super sub. Hassan Ramazani delivered a centimetre-perfect left-wing cross for Juach to steer a header into the right of the goal.
The fast pace of the game continued into the latter stages, but with seven regular minutes to play, Hellas secured their place in the big dance.
Max Mikkola’s ball into the box from the right caused chaos, with Juach reacting fastest to tap home and make it a special hat-trick off the bench.
South Melbourne take on Victorian rivals and A-League giants Melbourne Victory in the grand final.
