The Magic of the Cup was in full effect at Kambah 2 as Tuggeranong United eventually progressed to the Hahn Australia Cup Qualifying Semi-Finals with an epic 5-4 victory over Yoogali SC after 120 minutes of enthralling action.
In an instant cup classic, Tuggeranong led, then trailed, only to surge 4-2 ahead with eight minutes remaining, a lead that appeared destined to take them into the last four shoot-out with only two minutes of stoppage time left to play and Yoogali apparently down and out.
In a quite remarkable denouement though, the men from Griffith dug deep and achieved what looked impossible. First, in the 94th minute, they were awarded a penalty from which the inspirational Darren Bailey sought to complete a cup hat-trick. Callum Cook in the United goal saved his effort, but the Scotsman netted the rebound.
Then, as the clock ticked into the 96th minute, the visitors were awarded a free-kick, twenty-five metres from goal, dead-centre. Joey Seo, who had been a constant threat from full-back all night, placed the kick and bent an exquisite equaliser around the wall and into the corner.
Utter carnage. You could hear a pin drop around the venue as the Tuggeranong faithful tried to process what had just occurred. Enter Steve Nealon. Again. The young forward had already levelled for United at 2-2 when summoned from the bench and here he was, as the match approached the 100th minute doing what he does best.
Slipping onto Xabier Davies pass, Nealon set his sights and rolled the matchwinner past Michael De Paoli. The Yoogali stopper had earlier denied Romeo Jambrek twice with acrobatic saves of the top order but could nothing about this strike.
It was Jambrek who had started the goal fest in the third minute, rifling into the bottom corner from the edge of the are only for Yoogali to equalise when Bailey rose highest in the area to plant a stunning header past Cook three minutes later.
Bailey put Yoogali ahead three minutes into the second half, spinning in the box to drill a shot into the far corner, only for Nealon to equalise with his first touch after coming on as a substitute as he beat De Paoli to a long ball to steer into the net.
Jambrek restored United’s lead with a fine volley, connecting on the end of one of numerous long Cole Falco throw-ins that caused consternation in the Yoogali defence all night, and when Nic Emanuel burst past three challenges to slide home the fourth, it looked like game over.
Yoogali had other ideas, and their unbelievable stoppage time comeback took the game into the extra half-an-hour where Nealon was the difference. Mason Donadel might have sent it to penalties with the last kick of an absorbing match, but Cook parried his shot to safety and Tuggeranong were through.
RESULT
AUSTRALIA CUP QUALIFYING ROUND 5
Wednesday 30 April
Tuggeranong United 5 (Jambrek 3’, 72’, Nealon 62’, 99’, Emanuel 82’) Yoogali SC 4 (Bailey 5’, 48’, 90+4’, Seo 90+6’) – after extra time
