It wouldn’t be the Australia Cup without a little drama as Northcote City and Clifton Hill went to penalties. Melbourne Knights and Oakleigh Cannons are also into the national stage.
Northcote City’s kept its Australia Cup dream alive and ended local rival Clifton Hill’s Cinderella run in a drama-filled victory on Tuesday night.
When the teams could not be separated 1-1 after 120 minutes it came down to a penalty shootout at John Cain Memorial Park.
There, Brandon Cuminao etched himself in club history with two stunning saves to send Hercules through to the Round of 32.
It’s the second time the NPL2 club has reached the national stage, the first being 2018 when it went down 3-1 to Tasmania’s Devonport City.
City will be joined NPL heavyweights Melbourne Knights and Oakleigh Cannons after they secured comfortable wins over Yarraville Glory and Geelong respectively.
Coach Zeljko Kuzman said it was nights like that that made the Cup special.
“They made us work for it but it’s good to get through,” he said.
“They were extremely competitive, in their last game they beat Port Melbourne who are in the top flight.
“That’s cup football, you’ve just a matter of getting through, it doesn’t matter what it looks like, so I’m pleased with everyone at the club.
“The club is ambitious and I think progressing to the national stage is just reward for all the effort and time and energy that goes in behind the scenes.
“Putting the club on the map, at a national level, is progressive and highlights some of the things we’re doing to move the club forward.”
Northcote City took an early lead when captain Josh Knight pounced on a short pass, charging down the right wing, before finding Yug Gandhi for a tap in.
The lead would last until the third minute of the second half when the State League 2 ladder-leader was awarded a penalty, which Joseph Hunt converted.
The deadlock would not be broken for the next 72 minutes.
Clifton Hill was reduced to nine men during extra-time but fought on valiantly to force a shootout.
Cuminao turned the tables on Hunt when it mattered most, saving his spot kick to put Northcote City on the brink of victory.
However, Ghandi was denied the winning penalty by Chris Theodoridis to keep Clifton Hill alive.
Yet, Cuminao once again came up trumps, stopping Shelton Frimpong to spark wild celebrations among the Northcote City faithful.
“Brandon was amazing, even throughout the game he pulled off three of four crucial saves to keep us in the contest,” Kuzman said.
“His heroics in the penalty shootout was amazing.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Northcote City, forced to back up on Friday night in a critical clash against Werribee City at John Cain.
“We tried but Werribee didn’t want to budge unfortunately, so we’ve got to back up,” Kuzman said.
“We got into the Cup that these scenarios are likely to pan out and we’ll adjust accordingly.
“We’ll be looking to get busy in the transfer window, which opens on Tuesday, just to supplement our squad. I think we’re a bit thin at the moment.
“Being involved in three different fixtures, the Cup, Docherty Cup and the league, is testing for us so if we can add some players to help with those rotations it will help.”
In the night’s other results, Melbourne Knights overcame a mighty scare to defeat State League 1’s Yarraville Glory 3-1.
Glory took a shock lead in the 27th minute when Dominic Yuel struck and would hold out their heavyweight opponent until Luka Kolic scored on the hour mark.
The equaliser broke the dam wall and Mitch Hore and Ciaran Bramwell scored in the final 15 minutes to put the Knights back on the national stage for the first time since 2019.
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Meanwhile, Oakleigh Cannons had an easier time of it against NPL3 club Geelong at Jack Edwards Reserve.
Stef Valentini put the home side in front in the 13th minute and an own goal doubled the lead at half-time.
Chris Lucas, Oliver Kubilay and Joe Guest then finished the night strongly, all finding the back of the net in the final 20 minutes.
Heidelberg United and Goulburn Valley Suns booked their place in the Round of 32 last week.
Originally published as Northcote City wins dramatic shootout, Melbourne Knights and Oakleigh Cannons through