Adelaide Olympic fights back from 2-0 down to overcome Floreat Athena in 4-3 round-of-32 thriller
It was an FFA Cup thriller that had everything — a comeback, a sending off, a penalty and seven goals. Now, SA club Adelaide Olympic plans to build on its maiden win on the national stage.
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Adelaide Olympic officials are still coming to terms with the club’s “surreal” FFA Cup round-of-32 win after its fightback from 2-0 down and finishing with 10 men in a seven-goal thriller on Wednesday night.
Olympic conceded two goals in the first half against WA club Floreat Athena at the Parks, only to swing the changes shortly after the break and go on to prevail 4-3.
Fausto Erba struck first for the hosts on 54 minutes and substitute Ioannis Simosis netted the equaliser seven minutes later.
The match then took a twist when Erba received his second yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating the goal that put his side ahead 3-2 on 64 minutes.
Floreat took advantage of its extra man by equalising eight minutes later but Ferryden Park-based Olympic responded again via a Simosis penalty and held on in the closing stages.
It sealed a special result for Olympic, which began in the sixth tier of SA soccer’s amateur ranks, almost failed to make it past its second season and was debuting on the sport’s national stage.
“It was surreal last night and the reason why is the way the boys were able to claw it back,” Olympic president Stavros Parissos said.
“To be 2-0 down and be able to regroup at half-time and turn it around the way that they did is quite a spectacular achievement and shows the tenacity and the quality of our squad, not only as footballers but as men.
“I’m absolutely proud of everybody at the club, especially the coaching and playing group.”
Parissos said progressing to the round of 16 would help put the club on the map.
“It means we keep growing on a national level now, not just a state level now — we’re guaranteed to represent the state in the round of 16, which is absolutely huge,” he said.
Olympic coach George Tsonis looked forward to the challenge of the next round and said his side would be ready to face an A-League club or play on the road.
Tsonis conceded his players might have been overwhelmed by the occasion during the first half against Floreat before settling into the game.
“It was the first time they’d been at this stage of elimination on the national stage and maybe had nerves and it took them a little bit longer than expected to get going,” Tsonis said.
“Full credit to the group for believing in ourselves.
“We never give in, we know we’re super fit and fortunately we got a penalty, scored then held on.”
SA’s other two clubs remaining in the competition — Campbelltown City and Adelaide United — are yet to play their fixtures.
The Red Devils host A-League team Melbourne City next Wednesday (July 31), while the Reds travel to take on Melbourne Knights the following week (August 7).