Brisbane Roar survives Australia Cup penalty shootout against Avondale

There was plenty of Cup magic as Avondale scored an extra-time equaliser to take Brisbane Roar to penalties, drawing high praise from a former EPL star.

Charlie Austin celebrates his penalty shootout goal.

Look up Magic of the Cup on YouTube and you might just see a video of Wednesday night’s Australia Cup clash between Avondale and Brisbane Roar.

The Round of 16 tie had everything, horrific weather, thumping goals, a last-gasp equaliser and all the drama of a penalty shootout.

The two teams couldn’t be split after 120 minutes, thanks to Stef Zinni’s 119th minute equaliser with just 60 seconds left on the clock.

Avondale were brave, and bossed much of the match, but the A-League club’s quality showed in the shootout as goalkeeper Macklin Freke made two saves to secure a 2-2 (4-1) victory at Valley Park.

Avengers coach Zoran Markovski revealed marquee Roar recruit Charlie Austin came into their changerooms to praise his NPL Victoria opponents.

Stefan Zinni celebrates his late equaliser for Avondale.

Avondale players celebrate the equalising goal.

“To have Charlie Austin come into our changerooms, an English Premier League footballer that’s played at the highest level, and praise my boys that we were the better team and the better team lost,” he said.

“For me, I was gobsmacked, what a human being.

“He said ‘boys, I’ve never seen a team at your level play like that against a full-time professional team, the way you backed yourself and took the game on’, which was really special.”

Driving rain poured down and strong winds lashed the Broadmeadows venue from the opening whistle to the final penalty.

That was ugly.. full credit to @AvondaleFC84 gave us a great game… anyway we got the job done onto the next round @AustraliaCup

— Charlie Austin (@chazaustin10) August 17, 2022

Despite the weather, Avondale made a bright start to the match, putting the Roar defence under sustained pressure and went to half-time nil-all.

The deadlock was broken in the 58th minute when a Steven Gerrard-like slip allowed Brisbane winger Riku Danzaki to power a drive past Thom Jonkerman and into the top corner.

However, nine minutes later Avondale were back on level terms after a desperately unlucky Tom Aldred handled the ball in the box.

Liam Boland stepped up to convert from the penalty spot to bag his 10th goal in the Australia Cup and continue his remarkable strike rate.

Charlie Austin celebrates his penalty shootout goal.

Brisbane Roar players celebrate their penalty shootout win.

With the match going to extra-time, the Roar again took the lead through Henry Hore in the 96th minute as he stepped inside some passive defending and found the bottom corner.

As time ticked down, Avondale bombarded the Roar defence and found a thrilling equaliser to raucous cheers from the home fans.

Yusuf Ahmed won a key header inside the box and Zinni pounced on the loose ball to power home.

However, the Avengers couldn’t replicate Sydney City’s stunning Cupset over Western United, foiled by Freke in the penalty shootout.

Ahmed made no mistake with the first but Kristian Trajceski and Manyluak Aguek couldn’t convert as the Roar found the back of the net with all four of their spot kicks.

Markovski couldn’t have been prouder despite the loss.

“I’m super proud, to rock up against an A-League opposition, backing up after last Sunday’s game against Heidelberg, and going to extra-time and penalties,” he said.

“I thought we created more chances than Brisbane Roar and we were just unlucky and then to fight back, show character, and equalise in the last minute was super.

Brisbane Roar progress to the Australia Cup quarter-finals.

Liam Boland scored his 10th Australia Cup goal.

“All 17 of them, the bench, the coaching staff, even the club – what an achievement for the Avondale Football Club – taking Brisbane Roar to penalties.

“We didn’t even work on it at training, before we went to Darwin we had penalties at training and this week didn’t even work on it.

“Penalties are a lottery, you can’t blame individuals for missing, I told the boys to lift their heads up and go again, no one cost Avondale the game today.”

Roar defender Jack Hingert will miss the quarter-final against Adelaide United after being shown a red card for a second bookable offence in the ‎107th minute.

Brisbane coach Warren Moon said the game reminded him of his time in Scotland as a player.

“The wind was howling, the rain and the pitch was difficult, it was a leveller, it’s Magic of the Cup isn’t it, we went all the way to 120 minutes and full credit to Avondale,” he said.

CUP: UNITED BEAT CITY IN ADELAIDE DERBY CUP THRILLER

LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL SPORT NEWS HERE

CUP: A-LEAGUE GREAT IMPRESSED BY BENTLEIGH GREENS

“It showed the resilience in our group, we weren’t great at times, we weren’t polished, we had a setback during the week with three or four key players out.

“We worked really hard to get the lead back and were 90 seconds away from holding out but, again, the positivity of the boys in the penalties and way they stood up, we deserved it.

“Macklin Freck in the penalty shootout, a young man stepped up and came up with two big saves, I was really pleased for him.”

Avondale must now back up on Sunday in the final match of the NPL Victoria home-and-away season against champion South Melbourne at Avengers Park with a spot in the top-six on the line.

AVONDALE’S SEVEN DAYS OF FOOTBALL INSANITY

Avondale has the chance to achieve something special in what could be a week from heaven or hell.

The Avengers took a big step towards playing NPL Victoria finals on Sunday with a 4-1 rout of top-six rival Heidelberg United.

They’ll suit up on Wednesday in an Australia Cup Round of 16 blockbuster against A-League power Brisbane Roar for a place in the quarter-finals.

And complete seven days of football insanity four days later against NPL champion South Melbourne in the home-and-away finale, likely needing a win to book a finals spot.

Avondale coach Zoran Markovski has a pretty simple outlook … “let’s have a crack”.

Avondale striker Liam Boland has an incredible Australia Cup strike rate.

“We’re coming off a really good performance against Heidelberg and the boys are looking forward to stepping up to the big stage,” he said.

“I’m confident we’ll give a good account of ourselves, especially if we don’t cop a goal early then the flood gates might open.

“We’ve got to stay in the contest, the longer we’re in the contest the more chance we’ll have.

“We wanted to make the Round of 32 and now we’re in the Round of 16 and facing an A-League club, it’s fantastic to see where we’re at as a club.

“We had Wellington last year, we’ve played Sydney FC and now we play Brisbane, it’s big for the club.

“I know they’re a professional outfit but we’re going to leave no stone unturned and have a crack at them.”

It’s been a difficult season for Avondale as injuries hit hard.

The club will nurse its players through the week to have them ready for a tilt at a “Cupset” against Brisbane and back up against South Melbourne.

Leading 4-0 after 50 minutes against Heidelberg allowed Markovski to give key players Stef Valentini, Yitay Towns and Yusuf Ahmed an early mark.

Former North Macedonia under-21 Kristian Trajceski comes into the match in strong form after two goals against the Warriors, while Liam Boland scored a hat-trick and Liston Diaz added a brace in the 6-0 Round of 32 win over Northern Territory club Mindil Aces.

Markovski is more than confident his players have enough in the legs to compete on both fronts.

“We’ve got a couple of sore bodies because the boys put in a shift against Heidelberg,” he said.

“(The team) has been pretty unsettled this season and we’re not going to risk guys that aren’t comfortable backing up basically 72 hours later.

“I think the boys will put their hand up for the big occasion on Wednesday because when you’re playing an A-League team everyone wants to play.

“They won’t tell me they’ve got niggles but I know a few are carrying knocks.”

Boland in particular to will be critical to Avondale’s hopes given his astonishing record in the Australia Cup.

The star striker has netted nine times in nine appearances, including a famous wonderstrike for Green Gully in 2018 to beat Central Coast Mariners and a brace against Sydney FC in the 2018 quarter-final loss in extra-time.

“Liam will be playing, he’s got a knock on his toe, but I’m confident he’ll get up,” he said.

Stefan Zinni and Rhyan Grant when Avondale faced Sydney FC in 2018.

“They call him the FFA Cup King, he loves the tournament, and he’ll be playing for sure.”

The tie is a massive opportunity for club and player alike.

Avondale is looking to join the incoming National Second Division, while the Avengers’ playing group will be looking to gain A-League exposure in the nationally televised match.

The Avengers run to the quarter-finals in 2018 helped Elvis Kamsoba launch into the A-League and since make his international debut for Burundi and a move to Iranian club Sepahan.

“It’s massive for Avondale Football Club, if we can go head-to-head against these big teams,” Markovski said.

“We want to put our name forward for the B League, so this is a good occasion to showcase our football brand and see where it takes us to become a full-time professional outfit.

“The boys are looking forward to it, some of them could easily step up and deserve a crack in the A-League.

“With the broadcast on 10 Play and people watching live, it’s good the guys to get their names out there.”

It will be Brisbane’s second trip to Victoria in as many weeks after easing past Heidelberg United in the Round of 32.

Markovski watched on as the Roar claimed a 3-1 thanks to two assists from Premier League recruit Charlie Austin and a long-range rocket from Nikola Mileusnic.

Markovski was impressed by Austin’s competitive debut and admitted the Englishman would be difficult to stop.

CUP: ADELAIDE DERBY AN AUSTRALIA CUP HIGHLIGHT

LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL SPORT NEWS HERE

CUP: A-LEAGUE GREAT IMPRESSED BY BENTLEIGH

“I’d need about three to mark him,” he said.

“You can’t beat EPL experience and it was good to watch him live against Heidelberg.

“I’m looking forward to watching him from the sidelines, up close and personal.”

Avondale’s clash against Brisbane Roar will be played at Hume City’s Valley Park Sports Centre in Broadmeadows with kick off scheduled for 7.30pm.