Raiders veteran Justin Bralic retires after his stoppage-time winner fires club to FFA Cup SA last eight
Justin Bralic says scoring a stoppage-time winner to send Raiders into the FFA Cup SA’s last eight was a dream ending to his 400-game career. See our weekend wrap, including amateur club Elizabeth Downs’ history-making quarter finals berth.
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JUSTIN Bralic says scoring a stoppage-time winner to send Raiders into the last eight of the FFA Cup SA was a dream ending to his 400-game playing career.
The veteran hung up his boots on Saturday after firing in a 93rd minute free kick to secure a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Adelaide Blue Eagles in the round-of-16 clash at Gepps Cross.
He said it was a fitting way to mark his milestone match and ensure he left Raiders in a strong position, 21 years after making his first-team debut for the club.
“It was a really magical moment,” Bralic, 37, said.
“It was me and Josh Mori standing over the free kick and I said ‘look mate, it’s probably my last kick in first-team football, so just give us this one’.
“I couldn’t believe it when it went in and I ran straight over to the crowd to celebrate and all the team got around me.
“To finish like that was just unbelievable and I couldn’t imagine a better end to it all.
“It just happened perfectly – I’m still pinching myself.”
Stefan Glusevic opened the scoring for Blue Eagles midway through the second half of the knockout encounter at the Croatian Sports Centre.
But Mori equalised for the hosts, before Bralic stepped up to smash in the set piece from the edge of the box after Ivan D’Adamo had been sent off for a foul on Terence Carter.
The retiring midfielder was looking forward to spending more time with his partner Brooke and 10-week old daughter Daphne, while concentrating on his solar panel business.
“The only reason I’ve stopped is I just can’t dedicate three nights a week to training,” said Bralic, who had been restricted to just five league and cup games this campaign.
“I don’t want to just come out one night a week and see if I can jag a game.
“I’ve got way too much respect for the club – if I can’t give it a million per cent, I just won’t do it.
“I know how much I’ll miss it, but it’s time to not just think about what I need because I’ve got to dedicate more time to my family and stop being selfish.”
Bralic joined Raiders aged seven and made his maiden senior appearance a decade later, also ironically against Blue Eagles.
He won a top flight title in 2002 and the cup the following year, before spending two seasons with Victorian side St Albans Saints.
He re-signed for Raiders in 2016 as they were relegated from the top flight for the first time in 40 years, but helped them earn promotion to the NPL last season.
“When I came back to the club the team was in a really bad way, but I stuck with them and just wanted to leave it in a better place and I’ve achieved that.
“I’ve always given my all since the day I put on the shirt at my first training as a junior and have maintained that same passion for the shirt today.
“My fear was never the opposition, but it was letting my teammates down (because) I’d die for this club.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Downs made history as it became the first amateur club to progress to the quarter-finals of the cup following a 4-1 win over Vipers at Argana Park on Sunday.
It was tougher going for the other remaining amateur side, Elizabeth Vale, as it copped a 10-0 hiding at the hands of Adelaide City at Oakden.
Stefan Casalbore bagged four and Evan Kostopoulos grabbed a brace as the former National Soccer League giant booked its place in the last eight.
State League One struggler Adelaide Victory pulled off a shock, downing five-time cup winner White City 1-0 at Frank Mitchell Park.
Michael Birbas grabbed the only goal of the game 20 minutes from time.
Holder Adelaide Comets needed an 89th minute strike from captain Allan Welsh to secure a 2-1 triumph at home to South Adelaide on Friday night.
Croydon Kings saw off State League One Playford City 2-1, MetroStars defeated Para Hills by the same score and Adelaide Olympic edged out second division Cumberland United 3-2.
The quarter-final draw, which will be live streamed on the Advertiser Sport Facebook page, will take place at Hindmarsh Stadium at 11am on Tuesday.
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