Hume City out of the FFA Cup after Central Coast Mariners score 92nd-minute winner

The miracle return of goalkeeper Michael Weier inspired Hume City to the brink of upset but Central Coast Mariners ended the NPL club’s fairytale FFA Cup run with a heart-breaking goal.

Harry Monoghan looks to play forward against Central Coast Mariners.

Hume City’s memorable FFA Cup run came to a cruel end on Tuesday night.

Facing A-League power Central Coast Mariners, the NPL club more than held its own but were left heart-broken by a 92nd-minute winner.

A late corner turned into a goal mouth scramble and Abraham Majok was able to poke the ball home to secure the Mariners a 1-0 win and semi-final spot.

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“It was a cruel way to go out in the end, so late in the game,” City coach Nick Hegarty said.

“That being said, it was a fantastic performance by the team and a testament to what they’ve been doing all season.

“If we’d got to extra-time, I would have fancied us with our fitness.

Paul Wilson and Daniel De Silva contest a header.

Kye Rowles and Matthew Lazarides contest a header.

Steven Hewitt squeezes a pass past Samuel Silvera.

Abraham Majok celebrates his match-winning goal.

“Every goal you conceded you can look at things you could have done differently … that’s football, that’s life.”

The miracle return of goalkeeper Michael Weier inspired his teammates, as he started in net just three weeks after dislocating his shoulder.

Weier’s injury sparked a tumultuous build up to the quarter-final at Broadmeadows Valley Stadium with Turkey international Cenk Gonen signed as a marquee recruit.

However, just days before the match he backflipped on the deal.

Hegarty praised Weier’s performance under incredible duress.

“He goes into surgery in the next few days,” he said.

Marko Delic gets a pass away against Gianni Stensness.

“I’m told he dislocated it in the less conventional way, which meant the surgeon was able to sign him off to play.

“It wasn’t an easy decision but the way he trained made it easier and he played really well, he made an unbelievable save with his dodgy shoulder.”

Despite the defeat, City will look back on 2019 as a season full of success.

The club won its first senior trophy when it claimed the Dockerty Cup over Melbourne Knights, finished fifth in the NPL season and reached the FFA Cup quarter-finals for the second time.

Hegarty said the challenge for City was now to build on their efforts in 2020.

“We’ve got to be really happy with the season we’ve produced,” he said.

“In a couple of weeks when the dust has settled we’ll be able to look back and look at what we can do to improve it.

“It’s probably one of the most successful seasons the club has ever had … it’s brought the club back together again.”