There were two massive Cupsets on Matchday 3 of the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 16, with SD Raiders and Lions FC overcoming Macarthur FC and Melbourne City respectively.
Read our review of a remarkable night of action below.
SD Raiders 1 – 1 Macarthur FC (5-4 on penalties)
SD Raiders have become the sixth team to knock out A-League Men opposition in this year’s Hahn Australia Cup, defeating Macarthur FC on penalties and advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The Raiders had the better of the opportunities in the first half. Luka Knezevic was particularly involved, with a great chance one-on-one with the keeper, but was unable to convert.
In fact, at half-time, the statistics read 13 shots to 1 in favour of the member federation side – they just needed to find that finishing touch.
The pattern continued throughout the second half. Macarthur had more possession, the Raiders had better chances, but neither side were able to put their chances away. So, scoreless at full-time, the game headed for an extra thirty minutes.
Lachlan McGrath had a golden chance for SD early in extra time, having a close range header from a corner. He was not able to hit the target and it seemed destined to head to penalties.
Zane Helweh ensured that there would be goals. It was a stunning individual goal, the youngster cutting inside and staying on his feet under enormous pressure to finish with aplomb.
That may have been that. However, given the way that the Raiders had played in regulation time, they were never going to give up. Thomas Santarossa did well to find space on the left-hand side. His cross into the penalty area could not be dealt with and was turned into his own net by Harry Politidis to level the scores once more.
Penalties came with high drama. Raiders goalkeeper Michael Figueira was front and centre, a stunning save giving his side the chance to win. It was Jakov Malbasa who stepped up for their fifth spot kick – and he tucked it away, giving them a 5-3 win on penalties and knocking out the two-time cup winners Macarthur.
SD Raiders will now take on Sydney FC in the quarter-finals.
Lions FC 2 – 0 Melbourne City
Lions FC have pulled off a remarkable second ‘Cupset’ in two games, defeating A-League Men’s side Melbourne City 2-0.
City created a number of chances early in the half, probing the goal of the home side. Jacson Riley was forced into two fantastic save after strikes from outside the penalty area that looked destined to nestle into the back of the net, the second of which was from Round of 32 goalscorer Medin Memeti.
However, it was they who would concede first via an unfortunate own goal. James Nieuwenhuizen was unable to control a routine backpass, and the City goalkeeper could only watch as the ball trickled into the back of the net under his foot.
Lions doubled their advantage after half time. Shaun Carlos played a ball through to Luke Broderick. His cutback from the byline found the feet of Mitchell Hoare, who made no mistake from close range. Suddenly, the home side had an unlikely two goal buffer: and just had to hold on for the rest of the half.
They managed to do so, advancing to the Hahn Australia Cup quarter-finals for the first time in club history and setting up a tie with either Heidelberg United or North Sunshine Eagles.
The result also means that a member federation side is guaranteed to be in the final once more, with only member federation teams remaining on this side of the bracket.
