Jack West-Astuti and Jakob Williams the heroes in Moreland Zebras FFA Cup penalty shootout victory

On a night of high drama in the FFA Cup, Moreland Zebras goalkeeper Jack West-Astuti went from villain to hero in a see-sawing penalty shootout against Bulleen Lions.

Tremayne Sadler celebrates his goal for Moreland Zebras.

A super strike, dramatic penalty shootout and a tale of redemption — Moreland Zebras’ FFA Cup victory over Bulleen Lions had it all.

After a scoreless 90 minutes, the match sparked to life in extra-time with two goals before the Zebras escaped elimination after one of the competition’s all-time finishes.

Moreland midfielder Tremayne Sadler opened the scoring with a long-range rocket in the 94th minute.

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Goalkeeper Jack West-Astuti and Jakob Williams then proved the penalty shootout heroes.

West-Astuti redeemed himself after a soft save allowed Bulleen captain Eli Luttmer to equalise in the 107th minute with three high-pressure saves.

“When they scored I thought he could have done a little better with his save,” Zebras coach Fausto de Amicis said after the game.

Moreland Zebras goalkeeper Jack West-Astuti celebrates a save.

Moreland Zebras player celebrate the penalty shootout win.

Jakob Williams is swamped after scoring the winning penalty.

Drama! Save after save but and the Zebras are through in the @FFACup
#MagicOfTheCup
Bulleen: ✅❌❌✅❌❌
Moreland: ❌❌❌✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/8Mb6PQ4Hht

— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) July 24, 2019

“I’ve always had faith in the boy and trusted him and he said to me at the end, ‘I told you, coach, I’d redeem myself’.

“There was a lot of pressure not only for the penalty taker but also the goalkeeper. He stood up to the occasion.”

Luttmer scored the first penalty before four straight misses. Liam Cannell kept Moreland alive by converting the sixth spot kick.

West-Astuti saved what would have been a match-winning penalty from Kosta Apostolopoulo and after the keeper denied Andrew Mullett, Williams coolly slotted home to send Moreland’s fans into rapture.

“I played a very small part but happy to step up … I calmed the nerves and slotted it away luckily,” Williams said of his match-winning penalty.

“We did (practice) and the ones that were doing well in training all missed tonight.

Tremayne Sadler celebrates his goal in extra-time.

Moreland Zebras midfielder Gai Gai rises to win a header.

Bulleen Lions captain Eli Luttmer celebrates his equaliser.

Bulleen Lions goalkeeper Wyatt Chant celebrates a save.

“It’s luck on the night but I think we deserved to go through in the end.”

Sadler’s goal was a brilliant combination of technique and power, gathering in midfield, taking the ball on his left foot and leaving Lions keeper Wyatt Chant with no chance as the ball flew into the top right corner.

Luke Devitt impressed in midfield, bossing the game alongside Zebras captain Cam Watson.

After Bulleen dominated the first half, Moreland controlled the play in the second but neither team were able to find the breakthrough.

De Amicis was philosophical after the match.

“Football is like that, it’s made out of moments and seconds and just when you thing you’ve got things under control seconds change on you,” de Amicis said.

“We’ve just got to belief, luck of the draw is also important, the football gods were with us tonight.”

A knee injury to Nick Symeoy soured Moreland’s win, further weakening the Zebras stretched squad ahead of a NPL2 West clash against Geelong on Saturday.