A bonkers long range free-kick helped seal APIA Leichhardt’s progression to the final eight of the FFA Cup with a stunning 2-1 win over Isuzu UTE A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers.
Three years ago, the iconic state league outfit knocked out Melbourne Victory, and become the first second tier side to eliminate two top tier opponents with their triumph tonight at Leichhardt Oval, which pits them against Central Coast in the quarter-finals.
Tynan Diaz will grab the headlines for the winning goal – a daring long range free-kick, which caught Wanderers keeper Daniel Margush off guard.
To add more insult to injury for the fallen A-League club, Jason Romero, who scored the opener, had trialled with the Wanderers.
As iconic as the win is for the former National Soccer League champions, it is a blow for the Wanderers, who were not at the races.
Tass Mourdoukoutas’s strike made it a frenetic final 20 minutes, but somehow APIA hung on. Even though this was a heavily rotated Wanderers side, they were playing against an outfit which had played one competitive match – their Round of 32 win – since July. But, somehow, they hung on for a famous result.
Although the Wanderers are unbeaten in the opening three rounds, this defeat will be a blow for Carl Robinson, who is looking to find a balance with a heavily recruited squad for this campaign and faces a derby this weekend with Macarthur.
Elsewhere, Wellington Phoenix are into the Round of 16 courtesy of a 1-0 win over Western United. Ben Waine scored the winner in the 35th minute.
Waine’s goal was the Phoenix’s only shot on target in a match dominated by John Aloisi’s team
