Adelaide City beats White City on penalties to seal dramatic Federation Cup final win
ADELAIDE City keeper Luke Ostbye was the hero as his penalty shootout save sealed a dramatic Federation Cup final win at Hindmarsh Stadium yesterday.
ADELAIDE City keeper Luke Ostbye was the hero as his penalty shootout save sealed a dramatic Federation Cup final win over White City at Hindmarsh Stadium yesterday.
A gripping decider was settled when man-of-the-match Nicholas Bucco fired home from the spot to secure a 5-4 penalty victory after the sides were locked 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Earlier, the Warriors settled the quickest and forced Ostbye into a fine save at his near post in the eighth minute when the impressive Nicholas Mavromatis got on the end of a Nikola Mileusnic cut back.
White City then had a goal disallowed in the 10th minute when Nathan Bowden-Hasse's back post header was ruled out for a push.
Adelaide City responded well and had a goal chalked off of their own on 18 minutes when a 40m Emanuele Pappalardo free kick deflected into the path of Joel Allwright whose first time finish was ruled out for offside.
The Warriors' best chance of the half fell to the livewire Mileusnic in the 25th minute when he smashed a half volley over the bar when unmarked at the back post.
The Black and Whites broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when a fine ball by Pappalardo found Allwright wide on the right.
The pacy winger got past his marker and whipped a perfect cross onto the head of Anthony Costa who finished truly from 6m.
White City had two glorious chances to draw level in the 54th minute when first a header by Andrej Rastovac then a low finish by Mileusnic were scrambled off the line by the desperate City defence.
The Warriors deservedly drew level on 73 minutes when Lloyd Owusu held off two defenders before spinning the ball inside to skipper Michael Keens who stabbed the ball home from 6m.
White City finished the strongest and wasted three glorious opportunities in extra time to win the cup.
First Owusu broke clear of the City defence to fire a low shot across goal which Ostbye did well to save low to his right, then Mileusnic surged past two defenders before firing over the bar when well placed from 12m.
Owusu squandered the best chance five minutes from the end of extra time when he got on the end of a delightful Shuto Nakamura cross but sent his header wide from 8m.
Keens stepped up to take White City's first spot kick, but his firm strike was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Ostbye.
The next eight penalties were converted before Bucco calmly slotted home to seal the Black and Whites' 16th cup win.
Adelaide City coach Damien Mori said the victory was a reward for the club's fans after losing the past two Premier League grand finals.
"The game was open and I thought White City played really well and we probably rode our luck a little bit," he said.
"We were looking to win something and the team we've got at the moment is quite a young bunch of boys and now we look forward to the rest of the season."
Bucco said his side deserved the cup win after a strong second half of the season.
"It feels good to be a part of something really special," he said.
"Today we thought on a beautiful pitch we could play our game, but obviously White City are a very good team and tough to play against.
"Some might say we didn't deserve it, but we put in a lot of hardwork as well."
White City coach Robbie Saraceno said he was "extremely proud" of his players' effort.
"The boys are pretty disappointed because obviously you never like to lose a final, but it was a very open game and I can't be more proud of my boys," he said.
"We probably had enough chances to put the game away and that's probably why it's harder to take losing on penalties."
In the earlier matches, Para Hills beat Adelaide Blue Eagles 2-0 to win the reserves cup final, while Adelaide City defeated Cumberland United 2-1 in the under-18 decider.