Reigning A-League Men champions Western United suffered a shock exit from the Australia Cup, losing 4-3 on penalties to NPL NSW Men outfit Sydney United 58 on Sunday afternoon.
Favourites to win the last-16 showdown, Western crashed out of the national competition following a tense penalty shoot-out after the scores were deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes.
Cristian Gonzalez converted the winning spot-kick on home soil to send the club to the quarter-finals, sparking wild scenes in Sydney.
A Western counter-attack produced the first goal of the tie at Sydney United Sports Centre, where Connor Pain latched onto a cross on the stroke of half-time.
But Sydney United found the equaliser 10 minutes into the second half after Tariq Maia rifled a long-range shot that wrong-footed Western goalkeeper Jamie Young.
Western had their chance to seal the match inside 90 minutes but on more than one occasion they were denied by Sydney United goalkeeper Danijel Nizic.
It was an entree of what was to come from Nizic, who saved Western’s fifth penalty – diving low to his left to deny Steven Lustica – before Gonzalez calmly slotted the winner in the top right corner for Sydney United.
Sydney United, who finished eighth in NPLM NSW this season, are the 10th member federation team to knock out an A-Leagues club in the Cup’s history.
They are through to the quarter-final stage for the first time after four previous round-of-16 appearances.
Last season’s NPL Queensland premiers Peninsula Power also advanced, beating NPLM VIC side Green Gully 2-1.
Sydney United joined A-League Men clubs Sydney FC and Macarthur FC in the quarter-finals, though there are still last-16 fixtures to come.
On Wednesday, Melbourne City host Wellington Phoenix, Brisbane Roar visit NPLM VIC side Avondale FC, Oakleigh Cannons meet Brisbane City, while the pick if the matches is a derby between ALM club Adelaide United and NPLM SA team Adelaide City.
