FFA Cup: Sydney FC beat Cairns FC 2-1
SYDNEY FC survived a scare on Tuesday night to advance to the FFA Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Cairns FC.
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SYDNEY FC survived a scare at Barlow Park on Tuesday night to advance to the FFA Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Cairns FC.
In the Corica family battle, it was Sydney coach Steve who had the last laugh over his nephew, Cairns winger Harry.
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But not before the hosts took a 1-0 first half-lead through midfielder Ryan Cavanagh, and butchered a golden chance to equalise — after Sydney went ahead 2-1 when Sky Blues goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne saved a Crios O’Hare penalty with 15 minutes remaining.
It was the second penalty referee Chris Beath awarded in the match., having also pointed to the spot in the 62nd minute when Cairns enforcer Bronson Koppen used to arm to block a Milos Ninkovic cross.
Cairns were leading 1-0 at the time, but Sydney skipper Alex Brosque netted the penalty to bring the visitors back on level terms.
Less than five minutes later Sydney went ahead after star playmaker Milos Ninkovic robbed Cairns defender Shaun Owens of possession.
Ninkovic then fed former Central Coast Mariners speedster Trent Buhagiar, whose calm finish gave his new club its matchwinning advantage.
Earlier, the NPL Queensland club stunned the Cup holders and A-League heavyweights by taking a 16th-minute lead via a sweet finish from midfielder Ryan Cavanagh.
Sydney responded and had two chances to equalise in the following 11 minutes.
The first fell to Brosque, whose 19th-minute shot was comfortably saved by Cairns goalkeeper Jacson Riley.
Then fullback Michael Zullo has a chance in the 27th minute but failed to hit the target, blazing his shot over the crossbar.
Cairns attacking weapon O’Hare brought the best out of Redmayne three minutes later with an angled shot that was headed for the bottom corner before the gloveman’s intervention.
Sydney started the second half strongly, with recently signed Dutch defender Jop van der Linden hitting the post with a classy free-kick in the 50th minute.
Brosque squandered a great chance seconds later, but soon after made amends with his penalty, which was quickly followed by Buhagiar’s winner.
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Originally published as FFA Cup: Sydney FC beat Cairns FC 2-1