For four minutes they could dream. Four glorious minutes in which the minnows from O’Connor Knights, the Capital Football Premier League title holders, led the A-League giants of Macarthur FC. Four minutes in which the team that was, until a couple of seasons ago a second-tier outfit, scaled the highest of heights.
When Phakedi Manda rose above a crowd of players to meet a superbly flighted Patrick O’Rourke free-kick and fire a bullet header past stricken Macarthur FC goalkeeper Filip Kurto, the cupset was well and truly on. Manda wheeled away in celebration, arcing to the corner flag to be engulfed by joyous teammates.
It was no more than the Knights deserved on an evening where the attendance of 3,060, many sporting the traditional colours of the O’Connor club, but an equal number of spectators from across the spectrum of the Canberra football community, were treated to a good old-fashioned cup-tie.
Knights’ striker Aisosa Ihegie was a perpetual menace, his strength and power causing the visitors issues, especially in a short spell in the second-half when he hammered a fierce shot straight at Kurto, before spinning magnificently in midfield and embarking on a driving run at the heart of the defence that ended with a whipped shot that flashed just wide.
Shortly afterwards Ihegie was forced to leave the fray, one of a trio of Knights stars to succumb to injury on the night, the original duo being rock-like central-defender Lachlan Fields, and dazzling winger Jackson Paesler, who both were withdrawn at half-time for Kristian Tokic and Manda respectively.
Macarthur offered little in the opening-half, but the 2022 Cup victors were in a more attacking vein after the break, Seb Arranz making a top drawer save four minutes after the resumption, diving to his right to palm away a thumping hit from Jed Drew. It wouldn’t be the last time that the Knights custodian was needed.
Later on in the piece, the athletic young goalkeeper made a blinding stop to repel a header from Macarthur substitute Ariath Piol, the rangy forward offering a massive threat upon his introduction and seemingly certain to score when meeting a cross with a firm header two minutes from the full-time whistle, Arranz diving to repel the goalbound effort with a spectacular one-handed clearance.
By then, the professionals had finally gotten in front. The equaliser was a thing of beauty in the 62nd minute, A pass forward from Matthew Jurman, a dummy from Jake Hollman, a perfectly weighted through ball via Frans Deli, and a nonchalant dinked finish by Hollman showcasing the class of the full-timers and bringing them back on terms.
Ultimately, it took a goal from a player who has been around the Socceroos international scene in the past to finally down the heroic Knights, moments after Piol shot wide when well placed, as Luke Brattan imperiously swept home a cleverly worked free-kick taken by Marin Jakoliš with eleven minutes left on the clock.
Knights gave it one last blast, running on fumes at the end of ninety exhausting minutes in which they went toe-to-toe with their A-League guests. It wasn’t meant to be, but the memories of this Night of Knights will linger long. And these four minutes of pandemonium will be the most easily recalled.
STATISTICS
Australia Cup Round of 32
Tuesday 30 July 2024
O’Connor Knights 1 (Manda 58’) Macarthur FC 2 (Hollman 62’, Brattan 79’)
TEAM: 1. Sebastian ARRANZ, 3. Lachlan FIELDS (12. Kristian TOKIC 46’), 5. Aisosa IHEGIE (7. Regan WALSH 73’), 6. Connor BILL, 9. Micheal ADAMS, 10. Patrick O’ROURKE, 14. Jackson PAESLER (11. Phakedi MANDA 46’), 18. James DRISCOLL, 19. Lachlan CAMPBELL (4. Sam VAN DOOREN 67’), 21. Niko KRESIC, 22. Harry MARTIN (8. Daniel ROBERTS 67’)
Substitutes not used: 16. Vincent SANCHEZ, 40. Logan BROWNING
Head Coach: Miro TRNINIC
YELLOW CARDS: 18. James DRISCOLL
Venue: GIO Stadium, Bruce, Canberra
Attendance: 3,060