South Melbourne have made history by defeating Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties (1-1 after extra time) to win the Australia Cup final at a sold-out AAMI Park. The victory marks the first time a team from outside the A-League has won the cup.
A historic night at AAMI Park
The match delivered a grandstand finish that few dared to predict. With fewer than five minutes of extra time remaining, South Melbourne were trailing 1-0 after Denis Genreau's 95th-minute goal put Victory ahead. Substitute Jordi Swibel then burst down the right and whipped a ball in, with Bul Juach turning it back centrally. It fell to another substitute, Max Mikkola, who bundled it goalward and, despite Jason Davidson's efforts, found the net.
The equaliser sparked scenes of hysteria and bewilderment across the stadium. South fans, who had been facing forlorn resignation, erupted as penalties loomed, while Victory supporters saw their celebrations of a third Cup turn to disappointment.
Penalty shootout drama
Victory had chances to win the game in regulation time. Santos sent a wide-open winner straight at South goalkeeper Javier Lopez in the 78th minute, and Victory hit the post twice – first when Lopez turned a Santos shot onto the woodwork in the 25th minute, and again deep into extra time when substitute Michael Ghossaini headed onto it.
In the shootout, four perfect penalties were converted by Marco Jankovic, Swibel, James Lackay, and Andrew Mesourouni, while Guillermo May, Ghossaini, and Genreau converted for Victory. But it was Harrison Sawyer and Jason Davidson – two players with close ties to South – whose failed attempts delivered the Cup to Hellas. Sawyer was denied twice by Lopez, given a mulligan on his first attempt after the Spaniard came off his line, only to be foiled again. Davidson, with the game on the line, skied his attempt.
A record crowd and a glimpse of the future
The atmosphere was evident hours before kick-off, with 29,911 fans packing into AAMI Park – the largest ever crowd for the venue. The only blemish was an outbreak of boos at the start of the Welcome to Country ceremony pre-game.
South Melbourne, standard bearers of the NSL and home of Ange Postecoglou, Ferenc Puskás, John Margaritis, and Paul Trimboli, were discarded when the A-League began. Twenty-two years on from their banishment, they have now made history again.
The result could provide impetus for Australian football to grow. South Melbourne has made no secret of their desire to take up a place in the A-League. Of the 777 clubs that started this year's Cup, this was the outcome that was delivered. History was made at AAMI Park on Saturday evening – but maybe the future was too.
