Auckland FC into semis Australia Cup
- Dave Worsley
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Auckland FC are through to the semifinals of the Australia Cup but only after a penalty shootout over Sydney FC
With the sides locked at 1-1 after extra time before the visitors emerged victorious 3-1 on penalties.
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Two late strikes in normal time by Lachlan Brook and Joe Lolley canceled each other out, with penalty misses by the aforementioned Lolley, MacAllister, and King proving the difference, with Auckland now looking forward to a tie with Heidelberg United.
Despite the intense rainfall in Sydney in the days leading up to the match, the ball moved along the Kogarah surface in crisp fashion, with both sides taking advantage of the conditions, producing two brilliant set plays 15 minutes into the match.
First it was Auckland, with Callan Elliot linking up with forward Guillermo May with three subsequent passes, before the Uruguayan traversed the sideline, cutting in but seeing his run denied by a strong smother by goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot.
Sydney sprung forward immediately through Joe Lolley, who switched to Akol Akon, eventually finding the ball again on the edge of the box, with his strike blocked well by defender Francis De Vries.
Auckland again attacked down the left side with Jesse Randall cutting into space just outside the 18-yard line, with his swerving strike forcing Hoefsloot into a save.
The visitors would have the ball in the back of the net on the half-hour mark, but Randall's tap-in from Hoefsloot's deflection was disallowed due to the forward's offside run to meet a De Vries' cross into the box.
Sydney responded shortly after through U-20 signings, as Paul Okon-Engstler broke free from a high Auckland press, playing the ball through to Rhys Youlley who struck from distance, producing a strong diving stop from Michael Woud to remain scoreless at the break.
The second half had limited opportunities in front of goal. The first chance came again from a Sydney young gun, as Akon took the ball from after halfway, beating two before firing his shot just over the bar.
May was astonished that his header wasn't converted in the 70th minute, with the attacker connecting to an Elliott cross from the right, requiring a dive to reach the pass, heading straight into the goalkeeper's hands.
With five minutes to play, the visitors would finally break the deadlock, through recent signing Lachlan Brook. The midfielder sat on the far post benefiting from a Hoefsloot save that deflected right into his path, allowing Brook to tap home.
The first goal opened the floodgates, with Sydney equalising almost immediately, with Joe Lolley profiting at the back post this time, to score from an unmarked position following a Joel King low-cross.
A late flurry of attacks by Auckland was threatening but ended in naught, with the two sides unable to be split after 90 minutes, with the third Hahn Australia Cup 2025 semi-final spot requiring extra-time to be decided.
Louis Verstraete produced the best chance of the first extra-time phase, with a direct strike from outside the box that swerved via a deflection, forcing an impressive low stop by Hoefsloot having not seen the ball until late in the piece.
Joe Lolley would come close again in the 115th minute, showing his class in beating two players along his favorite right touchline, before cutting onto his left foot and striking toward the far post, with a defender's deflection denying him a late winner.
However, penalties would be required after 120 minutes of play.
The shootout began with two composed finishes, before Hoefsloot saved the second Auckland penalty by May.
Michael Woud replied in earnest, denying King with a strong save to his right.
A late collapse by the Sydneysiders would prove costly, with Round of 32 hero MacAllister and Lolley skewing both of their strikes wide, with Auckland sealing the victory in a hard-fought contest at Kogarah.