Ten-man Monaro Panthers survived a late Canberra Croatia onslaught to record a cup victory that will be remembered in the annals of history at the Queanbeyan-based club, as the hosts ended the cup holders reign with an epic 3-2 victory on a sensational evening at the Riverside Stadium.
Roko Strika, as he so often is, was the man for the moment for the Panthers who, following the dismissal of Christian Kreskas, visibly rallied, lifting themselves off the canvas to score twice in a twelve-minute spell that was to be the ultimate undoing of the visitors.
The Panthers had got off to a flying start by taking the lead in only the sixth minute of the match, Ben Basser-Silk profiting at the second attempt, his shot taking a deflection that took it past Jason Matesa in the Canberra Croatia goal following an exceptional clearance by goalkeeper Finn Jurak.
Croatia’s response to falling behind was excellent and they levelled in the 36th minute with a well-constructed goal. Daniel Sparrow released Thomas James who’s cross was adroitly controlled and finished by Daniel Barac, perhaps via the foot of the covering defender Patrick Mitchell.
Kreskas red card, received for a second bookable offence following an altercation with David Seselja, appeared to swing the game in Croatia’s favour but, perhaps more tellingly, they almost immediately lost star striker Thomas James to a hamstring injury that stymied their attacking fluency.
Panthers rocked into gear and the combination of substitutes Tyson Livermore and Zac McLaren combined to find Strika who cut inside and placed a confident finish past Matesa. A dozen minutes later McLaren’s energetic burst into the area was brought to an illegal halt and Strika calmly converted from the penalty spot.
Croatia gave themselves a glimmer of hope with two minutes remaining when they were gifted a goal. Jurak had just made a splendid save to deny Keegan Vucetic when, from a Vucetic corner, he misjudged the ball, possibly in the glare of the floodlights, and punched into his own net.
That set up a dramatic finale, Michael Piccolo seeing his header saved by Jurak and Atiya Waraga just failing to get on the end of a cross, but the Panthers held firm to move into the Semi-Finals.
RESULT
Wednesday 1 May
Monaro Panthers 3 (Basser-Silk 6’, Strika 66’, 78’ (p)) Canberra Croatia 2 (Barac 36’, Jurak 88’ (og))
