Lightning interruption, penalty shootout as Hume City claims elimination final win

In one of the craziest NPL games, Hume City scored a late equaliser and overcame a lighting storm interruption in extra-time to defeat Heidelberg United in a penalty shootout.

Hume City players celebrate their penalty shootout win. Picture: Teyfik Baser

This game had it all and then some.

Hume City’s elimination final win over Heidelberg United will long be remembered.

A dramatic late equaliser, extra-time and the game interrupted by a lightning storm, a penalty shootout and Michael Weier’s match-winning heroics.

And in the end City’s second ever NPL Victoria finals victory and a semi-final date with premier South Melbourne.

However, it will have to do it without skipper Josh Bingham after he received a second yellow in the 121st minute and was sent off.

After 2-2 and 1-1 draws earlier in the season, coach David Chick said it was no surprise the match finished level and he was confident Weier would be a difference-maker.

“We’ve had three games against them and all of them have been level at the end of the game, so it wasn’t a shock it went to penalties,” Chick said.

“When you’ve got a keeper like Michael, who has a very physical presence in the goal, it’s not easy to take penalties against him.

“We felt quite confident – as confident as you can be in a penalty shootout – that Mikey would save one or two and then it’s down to the boys to be calm and finish it.”

Heidelberg United took the lead just before half-time through a piece of Sebit Ngor brilliance.

The mid-season addition won a midfield battle and spotting Weier off his line, launched an audacious long-range shot that curled perfectly over the treating keeper and into the top corner.

Just as it looked like City’s season was slipping away, it was awarded a penalty in the 86th minute.

Warriors defender Ajdin Fetahagic was adjudged to have handballed, giving Lloyd Isgrove the chance to equalise from the penalty spot and he made no mistake.

41:00: GOAL! Heidelberg United score to make it HUFC 1 : HCFC 0.

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While the rain had been belting down for much of the night, lightning forced the game to be called off with 10 minutes remaining in extra-time.

When the game resumed, the teams couldn’t be separated and penalties would decide the winner.

Lloyd Isgrove and Ben Collins got their teams off to successful starts before Fletcher McFarlane’s effort was stopped by Yaren Sozer.

Kaine Sheppard, Josh Gulevski, Fetahagic and Harry Ascroft all made no mistake before Weier got Hume City back in the game by saving Anthony Theodoropoulos’ kick.

Lachlan Weier and Sean Ellis sent it to sudden death where Mark Ochieng kicked truly for Hume but Mo Aidara couldn’t beat Weier.

“We’ve come back against them each time, so it was a situation we’ve been in before,” Chick said.

“We’re a good team if we go a goal down, we generally have got back into a lot of the games and show a lot of character.

“We felt a little unlucky not to get a penalty earlier but we felt it was coming, the nerves come when you’re looking at the clock and you’re thinking are we going to get it done in time.

“Then the handball and Lloyd is a confident player and enjoys those moments.”

Hume will now face South Melbourne for a shot at the NPL grand final.

Hellas ended City’s last finals campaign in 2019 and has claimed all three clashes this season, all 1-0.

Both clubs also have Australia Cup commitments this week as South Melbourne hosts Brisbane Olympic on Sunday and Hume City tackles FC Melbourne at Broadmeadows Stadium on Tuesday night.

“We’ve had some really exciting games against South … they’ve been really tight in terms of shots on target and those types of things but they’re really good at defending for long periods of time and have a knack of nicking a goal,” Chick said.

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“Set pieces are massive for them, they’re really well drilled and have boys that are dominant in physical battles and in the air.

“It’s up to us to solve the problem that is South Melbourne.”

In Saturday’s elimination final, Oakleigh Cannons eased past a nine-man Dandenong City 4-1 at Jack Edwards Reserve.

Golden Boot winner Alex Salmon, skipper Joe Guest, Emlyn Wellsmore and Asad Kasumovic all found the back of the net, while Damian Iaconis scored Hadjuk’s lone goal and Jack Webster and Tom Giannakopoulos were sent off.