The 958 in attendance at Adelaide’s Elite Systems Football Centre were blessed with an instant classic as Victorian NPL side Bentleigh Greens knocked MetroStars out of the FFA Cup on penalties.
The hosrs never gave up the fight, answering everything that the favourites Bentleigh threw at them despite being reduced to 10 men after Liam Wooding received his second yellow.
The South Australians came from a goal behind on three separate occasions on their way to the penalty shootout, with Chrisitan Esposito cancelling out Chris Lucas’ opener.
Luke Pilkington looked to have the game wrapped up with a late goal from a corner, but substitute Terry Theodorou hit the back of the net with the last kick of the game to send it to extra time.
Adelaide football hero Travis Dodd would again bring MetroStars level in the second added period, but that is where the home side’s luck ran out as two misses from the spot ensured Bentleigh’s progression.
If any doubts remained over whether cup football would be successful in Australia, these would surely have been laid to rest at the final whistle.
Wooding’s red changes the game
After early dominance from the visitors, Metro worked their way back into the contest and received their just rewards with Esposito’s goal early in the second-half, then nearly took the lead minutes later.
As the home side pushed on for a second, Wooding lunged in with a reckless challenge, earning a red card and almost injuring himself in the process.
With the numbers against them, Metro’s momentum was quickly snuffed out and five minutes later Bentleigh found themselves back in front.
In any other circumstance the red would have been a disadvantage, but it seemed to push the South Australians into another gear as they desperately tried for the equalizer.
It has to be asked, though, what might have happened had Wooding been on the pitch for extra time and penalties?
Injuries no worries for Bentleigh
Former Melbourne Heart product Kamal Ibrahim was a late scratching from the Bentleigh line-up with an injury, replaced by Kieran Dover.
Though it came in unfortunate circumstances, the move paid dividends as the 19-year-old set up Lucas for the opener with a lovely flick over the MetroStars back four.
Earlier Bentleigh also lost Captain Wayne Wallace to injury, his spot filled by former Brisbane Roar youngster Liam McCormick. He too did not miss a beat, though, slotting seamlessly in at the double pivot point.
MetroStars rue missed spot kicks
Two misses in the shootout ultimately proved to be Metro’s downfall.
Adam van Dommele – one of the club’s many connections to Adelaide United – went for a mix of power and placement into the top corner, but ultimately sent it way over the crossbar.
Youngster Stefan Simic – who impressed as a second-half sub and set up Dodd for his goal – showed great courage to step up in the crunch with their fourth spot kick, but crumbled under the pressure.
It is a massive learning curve for the 16-year-old, and he will emerge a better player for it. Having already scored four goals across Adelaide’s NPL in just his second year among the senior squad, he can only go up from here.
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