Ghan for glory: Second-tier amateur club shocks five-time winner in FFA Cup SA

A SECOND-TIER amateur club formed just 16 years ago has caused a huge boilover, knocking a five-time winner out of the FFA Cup SA. And Ghan Kilburn City is not finished yet.

Ghan Kilburn City players Masoud Teymouri, Lyon Varney and Javeed Zamini with coaches Rahim Zaidi and Desmond Tucker. Picture: AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards

A SECOND-TIER amateur club has pulled off one of the biggest shocks in state soccer history, knocking a five-time winner out of the FFA Cup SA.

And Ghan Kilburn City claim they are not finished yet as they eye another big scalp in the last 16 of the regional phase of the national knockout competition.

The Sunday division two amateur side, formed just 16 years ago, caused a major boilover when it defeated State League One White City 2-1 after extra-time in the first round clash at the Parks on Wednesday night.

Assistant coach Desmond Tucker said it was the proudest moment in the short history of the Blair Athol-based outfit, which was founded by Afghan immigrants in 2002.

“It’s wonderful, the boys are so happy,” Tucker said.

“We went into the match thinking we were going to win and we had confidence, because whenever we play a bigger team we always come out looking good.

“But the boys really had to stand up and I’m so proud of them.

“Now we want to go to the final and by God’s grace, we are going to go to the final.

“The sky is the limit.”

Ghan, making its tournament debut following the landmark affiliation of the amateur league with Football Federation SA, took a shock first-half lead against the Warriors.

Last season’s league golden boot winner Masoud Teymouri opened the scoring with a first-half penalty, converted at the second attempt after the referee had ordered it be retaken.

White City, which sits third in a division effectively three tiers higher than Ghan, capitalised on a defensive error to equalise through Alex Rideout 10 minutes from time.

But Teymouri got on the end of a Lyon Varney pass in the first additional period to score the winner and spark frenzied celebrations for the minnow.

“When it went into extra-time I said to my boys, ‘you have to go on and do it, sweat-for-sweat, blood-for-blood’,” Tucker said.

“Towards the end of the match, White City was giving everything but our boys stood up.

“When the referee blew the (full-time) whistle ... it was amazing.

“We all came together in the centre of the pitch to sing our club song and everybody was going wild.”

Ghan Kilburn City players Lyon Varney, Masoud Teymouri, Javeed Zamini with assistant coach Desmond Tucker and coach Rahim Zaidi. Picture: AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards

Ghan saw off Collegiate League Mercedes Old Collegians 1-0 in last month’s preliminary round, after it was one of 10 SA amateur sides to enter the FFA Cup for the first time.

Tucker said his team hoped to be paired with another big gun in Monday’s round-of-16 draw.

“We are ready for it, this is what we were made for,” Tucker said.

“The boys are pumped up.

“We want to go all the way to the final and we want to play the highest teams in Australia.”

Sunday top flight amateur club Elizabeth Vale also went close to an upset in its first round clash with State League One Seaford Rangers at Mofflin Reserve on Wednesday.

The visitors raced to a two-goal lead early in the second half thanks to a Connor Fagan strike and an Adam Bartlett penalty.

Vale stormed back in the last four minutes as veteran striker Chris Nicholl’s close-range header and a cracking volley by Nick Burbridge sent the tie into extra-time.

Fagan was on target again in the 99th minute for Rangers, but they had to survive several close calls late on as the hosts pushed for the leveller.

The winner of the FFA Cup SA represents the state in the competition’s national round-of-32.