A Maxx Green double proved decisive for Canberra Croatia as the pre-cup final favourites finally shook off a brave, and brilliant, Queanbeyan City to secure progress to the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 with a 2-1 win after extra time at McKellar Park on a cold Canberra evening to claim a 20th Federation Cup.
Green found a way past the Queanbeyan City defence twice in the added period, the second coming with virtually the last kick of the contest to break City hearts after the underdogs got themselves to within a couple of minutes of a penalty shoot-out following an equaliser from Nico Abot.
The opening ninety minutes had seen City more than equal the current league leaders and take the game to their much-fancied opponents, but chances were few and far between, the Final though eminently watchable as both teams attempted to find a way through some solid defence.
With Daniel Roberts and Marko Savkovic winning the midfield battle, and Gabriel Ayuel later earning a deserved Man of the Match award, absolutely sensational in defence, Queanbeyan were able to stifle a Canberra Croatia side that had been free-scoring in their run to the Final.
Croatia had a massive penalty shout turned down in the second-half when Kristian Tokic collided with Jack Peraic-Cullen, and they might have won it in the final minute of stoppage time as Nick Middleton brilliantly denied Daniel Sparrow, Green’s follow-up somehow cleared off the line.
The deadlock was finally broken eleven minutes into extra-time. Marko Jadric, impressive as a half-time replacement for Nick Pratezina, found space down the left flank and squared for Green to finish in off the base of the post.
That looked to be that, but Queanbeyan dug deep into their resolve and equalised in stoppage time at the end of the first-half of extra time. Substitute Samuel Aba was baulked by Sam Brown in the Croatia goal and Abot stepped up to confidently rifle home the resultant penalty. It was the first goal Croatia had conceded on their cup run.
And it might have proven enough to take the game to spot-kicks, but Peraic-Cullen beautifully controlled a Ryan Keir pass to create space for a cross-shot that Green turned home at the far post for his sixth cup goal of the campaign, and fourteenth of the season, to send Croatia onto the national stage once again.
MATCH STATISTICS
AUSTRALIA CUP QUALIFYING FINAL
Queanbeyan City 1 (Abot 105+4’ (p)) Canberra Croatia 2 (Green 101’, 120’)
(McKellar Park, 15:30)
Queanbeyan City: 1. Nick MIDDLETON, 2. Kristian TOKIC (16. Seth BONNETT 110’), 3. Jack LEVERETT, 5. Nahuel GUERRERO (15. Michael GALIC 71’), 6. Marko SAVKOVIC (11. Misko NAUMOSKI 105’), 8. Daniel ROBERTS (17. Charlie RAE 96’), 9. Thomas BLAZEVSKI (18. Samuel ABA), 10. Gabriel AYUEL, 12. Noah VANDERPOL, 14. Takuya MIYABAYASHI, 22, Nico ABOT
Substitutes not used: GK. Finn BEASLEY
Canberra Croatia: 1. Sam BROWN, 4. Matt GRBESA, 6. Ryan KEIR, 7. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 8. Keegan VUCETIC (18. Marko JADRIC 46’), 9. Thomas JAMES (5. Jack PERAIC-CULLEN 69’), 10. Nick PRATEZINA (24. Daniel SPARROW 46’), 13. Riley ZSUZSA (21. Ivica MAJETIC), 14. Daniel SUBASIC, 19. Tony SPASESKI, 22. Maxx GREEN (15. Davide SESELJA 120+3’)
Substitutes not used: GK. Jason MATESA
OFFICIALS
Referee: Gareth BIGGS
Assistant Referees: Adam POWERS, Josh EISER
Fourth Official: Harrison CRACKNELL
DISCIPLINE: Yellow Cards: 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 10. Gabriel AYUEL, HC: Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 15. Michael GALIC, 2. Kristian TOKIC (Queanbeyan City), 24. Daniel SPARROW, 5. Jack PERAIC-CULLEN, AC: Andy RAKIC, 1. Sam BROWN (Canberra Croatia)
Red Cards: None
