ANU FC secured their passage to Round 4, and a visit to Tuggeranong United, with a narrow win in a five-goal thriller against Weston Molonglo FC at Melrose Synthetic to complete the Round 3 fixtures.
The University side, higher-ranked and favourited to make progression, ultimately shook off the attentions of their underdog opponents, who started the game brightly and, early on stunned their hosts by taking the lead after only two minutes of action.
A straightforward pass through the heart of the ANU FC defence freed striker Roshan Lamichhane and he finished adroitly, lifting his effort over the advancing goalkeeper to send the Magpies fans into dreamland.
It was a lead that lasted until seven minutes to half-time when ANU FC equalised from the penalty spot. A foul inside the box presented the usually ice-cool Nicholas Hope with the opportunity to level the scores from twelve yards.
His first effort was beaten away by Josh Wade in the Weston goal, but the officials adjudged the stopper had moved off his line before the ball was struck and ordered a retake which Hope duly despatched, ramming the re-take straight down the middle.
All-square at the break meant that the tie was still in the balance, yet ANU FC were able to take a firm grasp of proceedings when they struck twice within the space of four minutes at the beginning of the second-half.
The first saw Jacob Hart make inroads into the Magpies defence and cut the ball back for the waiting Jack Gibson who finished from inside the area, before Hart got on the scoresheet himself, timing his run in behind the Weston Molonglo defence to slide home a calm finish.
The Magpies saw Ben Grieg sent off for receiving a second yellow card, but rallied to force a nervy finale as Daniel Graham scored a minute into stoppage time, but it was too late to prevent ANU FC from holding on and setting up a cup-tie with National Premier League opponents Tuggeranong United.
AUSTRALIA CUP QUALIFYING
Round 3
Sunday 24 March
ANU FC 3 (Hope 38’ (p), Gibson 52’, Hart 56’) Weston Molonglo FC 2 (Lamichhane 2’, Graham 90+1’)