Flashback: Blacktown City produce thrilling Cupset against Mariners
In 2017, Blacktown City took on A-League Men’s side Central Coast Mariners in the Round of 32, and with a 3-2 victory, produced one of the most thrilling Cupsets in Australia Cup history.
The NPL Men’s side was rich in history, with Socceroos Mathew Ryan, Scott Jamieson, Robbie Slater, Bernie Ibini and Keanu Baccus all having played for Blacktown - as well as Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan - but they faced a new challenge in taking on a top-tier side in the Australia Cup.
Blacktown had only once played an A-League Men’s side in the Cup, losing to Sydney FC in the 2016 Quarter Finals, and one year later the 2016 NPL NSW Men’s Champions were eager to prove their worth once again.
Blacktown City’s Road to the Round of 32
Blacktown City enjoyed a strong qualifying campaign as they grabbed their fourth successive Australia Cup appearance, making them one of just three NPL clubs to appear in all past and present years of the tournament at the time.
A 6-0 victory over the Kirrawee Kangaroos gave Blacktown the perfect beginning in Preliminary Round Four, which was backed up by respective victories against Lokomotiv Cove FC and Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
In Preliminary Round Seven, Blacktown secured their spot in the Round of 32 with a 3-0 win over Bulli FC, before being subsequently drawn against the Central Coast Mariners in an enticing clash.
Mariners looking to rebound after tough season
The Mariners were coming off the back of a difficult 2016/17 campaign which saw them finish third-bottom on the A-League Men’s ladder.
Captained by Nick Montgomery, Central Coast picked up just six victories across their 27 matches and looked to respond with a host of signings, including Kye Rowles, Andrew Hoole, Daniel De Silva, Tom Glover and Tom Hiariej.
They were looking for a new beginning, and, having been eliminated by Green Gully SC in the 2016 Australia Cup, were presented with a chance at redemption against a strong Blacktown side at the tail-end of a successful NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Blacktown take shock two-goal lead
The Mariners were looking for a fast start, but it was their opponents who took a shock lead, as star striker Joey Gibbs netted a beautiful, curling freekick inside two minutes to give Blacktown the advantage.
In the 17th minute, Blacktown found another, with a central ball from Giorgio Speranza to Gibbs, who then fed the left-back with a deft pass in behind.
From a tight angle, Speranza produced a perfect near-post finish, sending the home fans into raptures, as their side took a two-goal lead over their top-division opponents.
It was a disaster for Central Coast, who were now on the brink of bowing out to an NPL side in two years in a row.
Mariners mount comeback
The Mariners however retaliated in the 32nd minute, as a strong run and finish from Kwabena Appiah halved Blacktown’s lead.
Early into the second half, Appiah scored again, with an attempted clearance from Blacktown captain Matthew Lewis rebounding off the chest of the forward and finding the back of the net.
Blacktown’s early lead had been eradicated, and it looked like their chances of a Cupset were going with it.
Classy Gibbs nets the winner
In the 82nd minute, Blacktown found a goal, with Gibbs again key to the move.
After finding Daniel Araujo with a clever through pass down the right, Gibbs then received the ball on the edge of the box.
The striker took a touch to set himself, before curling a brilliant left-footed shot around Adam Pearce and perfectly into the back of the net.
Against all odds, Blacktown had scored three against their A-League Men opposition, and held on to produce a spectacular Cupset at Landen Stadium.
What Happened After
Following their stunning victory against the Mariners, Blacktown beat NPL NSW rivals APIA Leichhardt in the Round of 16, with a brace once more from Joey Gibbs progressing them to the Quarter-finals for a second successive year.
Blacktown then went all the way against the Western Sydney Wanderers, with the A-League Men side requiring a late Oriel Reira goal to take the match to penalties, but it was there that Blacktown fell in a devastating end to a wonderful campaign.
The Mariners and Blacktown faced off in the Australia Cup once more in 2021, but this time Central Coast prevailed, with a 75th-minute goal from Beni N’Kololo beginning an exciting run to the final, where they lost out against Melbourne Victory.
