Elizabeth Downs beats top flight giant MetroStars on penalties to become first amateur club to make FFA Cup SA semi-finals
Elizabeth Downs coach Steve Hughes has credited his players’ fighting spirit and the club’s raucous home support for inspiring one of the biggest shocks in state soccer history and becoming the first amateur side to reach the FFA Cup SA last four.
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Elizabeth Downs coach Steve Hughes has hailed his players’ fighting spirit and the club’s raucous home support for inspiring one of the biggest shocks in state soccer history.
And the northern suburbs club was not done yet, after knocking out top flight giant MetroStars to become the first amateur side to reach the FFA Cup SA last four.
Downs fought back from a 2-0 first-half deficit to secure a 3-3 draw after extra-time and take Tuesday night’s quarter-final to a penalty shootout at Argana Park.
Goalkeeper Ben Aldridge made a stunning spot kick save, before Jacob Leahey converted the decisive strike to send his team through and the partisan crowd into raptures.
“It was just unbelievable,” Hughes said post-match.
“We knew were going to be up against a quality team and we knew we would need a bit of luck to go our way.
“But the crowd was massive and we needed to feed off that and use it as motivation to push through those periods we were under the pump.
“All the Downs faithful were in the club afterwards celebrating with the boys and they definitely played their part.
“Now we get another shot in the semi-final, and again, no one will be expecting us to win.
“But we’ll go in quietly confident on the back of tonight.”
The penalty drama was a fitting end to a rollercoaster cup tie and ensured Downs’ fairytale run would continue to within one victory of the Hindmarsh Stadium decider.
A large turnout was on hand to see if the reigning Sunday amateur champion could upset the odds against the National Premier Leagues SA powerhouse.
Indeed, the venue was only given the green light to host the clash after Playford Council stepped in to provide the required temporary fencing around the pitch.
The hosts withstood the early pressure against a side playing three divisions above them, but were undone by two goals in three minutes by Matthew Dawber and Matthew Charalambous.
Just when Downs appeared to be facing an uphill task, Cody Morrison handed it an immediate lifeline when his low drive found its way through a crowded box and into the bottom corner.
The home side lifted after the break and was rewarded when Stefan Cali inadvertently deflected a low cross into his own net.
Things got ever better for Downs just after the hour, as the impressive Tom Blackett clinically finished off a sweeping team move to give his team the lead for the first time.
But Cooper O’Donnell tapped in the rebound after a brilliant Aldridge stop to send the gripping encounter to an additional period of play.
The Downs custodian made a string of fine saves and both sides hit the woodwork to ensure the match finished even, before Downs secured glory from 12 yards.
“Getting that goal back before half-time just gave us belief coming out for the second half that there was still something in the game for us,” Hughes said.
“We were creating chances in our final third, so I said to the boys ‘let’s by no mean sit back, let’s keep going’.
“Anyone would’ve thought Metro would be the fitter side and the sharper side.
“In extra-time, we rode out a pretty fierce storm and we were running on empty, but knowing what was at stake kept the boys going.
“Now we get to go around again (in the cup) in a couple of weeks and we’re obviously looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, 17-time cup-winner Adelaide City advanced to the final four with a last-gasp 2-1 triumph over Croydon Kings at the Parks.
Chris Pepe’s opener for the Black and Whites was cancelled out by Antoni Trimboli’s penalty, only for Tomas Maricic to grab the winner four minutes from time.
Adelaide Olympic ended second-tier Adelaide Victory’s cup dreams with a 2-0 success at Oakden.
Goals to Fausto Erba and John Karatzas just before half-time ensured top-tier Olympic progressed.
Holder Adelaide Comets face Raiders at Jack Smith on Wednesday night (7.30pm kick-off) to complete the last eight fixtures.
The semi-final draw will be streamed live on The Advertiser Sport Facebook page at 11am on Friday.
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