Oakleigh Cannons produce a stunning Cupset to knock out Sydney FC

Victorian NPL club Oakleigh Cannons is the toast of the state after stunning A-League power Sydney FC in an all-time Australia Cup boilover.

Oakleigh Cannons celebrate the win over Sydney FC.

“This is what the Australia Cup is all about”.

Oakleigh Cannons coach Chris Taylor summed up a magical night at Jack Edwards Reserve as his players went toe-to-toe with the might of Sydney FC and won.

In a David and Goliath Australia Cup quarter-final, the Cannons produced one of the greatest performances in club history to knock out the A-League glamour club 2-1.

Goals from Wade Dekker and Chris Lucas put the NPL Victoria high-flyer up 2-nil inside the opening half-an-hour and, despite conceding in the 74th minute, they then held off a late Sky Blues surge.

Despite being heavy underdogs, Taylor said his players had a strong belief they could produce a “Cupset”.

Oakleigh Cannons are through to the Australia Cup semi-finals.

Anthony Pantazopoulos and Matthew Foschini celebrate Oakleigh Cannons’ win.

“It didn’t come as much of a surprise to a lot of our boys, we know we’re capable of it,” he said.

“You’ve got to say – it’s gone nation wide, it’s not national TV – so you’ve got to say it’s one of the club’s biggest achievements.

“We always felt we were up for a good result, even a close loss would have been good, but to produce that against the glamour side of the league is a great result and puts the club on the footballing map.”

Oakleigh opened the scoring in the sixth minute when a Chris Lucas cut-back beat Socceroos hero Andrew Redmayne and gave Wade Dekker a simple tap in at the back post.

Jack Edwards Reserve then erupted when Lucas doubled the lead on 30 minutes with a slice of luck.

From a corner, Dekker’s glancing header hit the crossbar and fell to Anthony Pantazopoulos at the back post who’s shot cannoned off Lucas and into the back of the net.

Adrian Segecic pulled one back for Sydney FC but the hosts held firm in the final 15 minutes to claim a famous victory.

“We conceded against Brisbane City in the 90th minute to go 3-3, we did it twice against Heidelberg United (in the NPL elimination final) in normal time and extra-time so the heart was in the mouth,” Taylor said.

Wade Dekker celebrates the opening goal of the game.

Chris Lucas scored Oakleigh Cannons’ second goal.

“We’ve had a tough schedule so we needed a little bit of luck, and we got that at times, but I can’t fault the effort and commitment and discipline of the players.”

Oakleigh is now the last Victorian club standing, outlasting the likes of reigning A-League premier Western United, Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.

The win earns the Cannons an Australia Cup semi-final berth against A-League newcomers Macarthur, coached by English Premier League legend Dwight Yorke.

“We’ve got the full backing of the football community in Victoria and I think that’s a good thing, we’ve all united,” Taylor said.

“There’s no A-League club still in the competition either so we’re holding the flame for all Victorian teams.”

However, the club must first face a cut-throat NPL Victoria semi-final against Port Melbourne Sharks on Saturday.

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Oakleigh survived an epic elimination final against Heidelberg United last Friday to progress, twice conceding an equaliser when just seconds away from victory before winning on penalties.

The Cannons defeated the Sharks 3-1 in their last meeting at Murphy Reserve and will fancy their chances of reaching the grand final on September 11.

NSW Premier League club Sydney United will face Brisbane Roar in the other Australia Cup semi-final.

South Melbourne hosts Green Gully in the other NPL Victoria semi-final.