Adelaide United have maintained their remarkable cup form with a resilient comeback victory over Sydney FC to remain in the hunt for a second successive FFA Cup crown.
Adelaide were pushed to the limit by the Sky Blues but defender Dylan McGowan was the unlikely match-winner netting with six minutes of extra time remaining.
The Reds won last year’s maiden edition of the tournament and two wins this season has again lifted them into the quarter-finals.
Wednesday’s victory at Hindmarsh Stadium means the Reds are now unbeaten in 24 domestic cup matches stretching back to the now defunct A-League pre-season cup which ran for four seasons until 2008.
Rhyan Grant’s early long-range goal for Sydney FC was cancelled out by Pablo Sanchez before halftime in an at-times tempestuous contest, with McGowan sent off moments after scoring the winner for a last man foul.
“I thought we took control of the game late on,” said Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
“The main thing is just getting to the next round, but we have to improve a lot and we will do that.”
Perth Glory, who were beaten by Adelaide United in last year’s final, survived a tough challenge at Brisbane semi-professional side Lions FC to narrowly avoid a cup upset.
The Glory were reduced to ten men after just six minutes when goalkeeper Jarrad Tyson was dismissed and replacement Nick Feely saved a penalty with his first touch.
A penalty shoot-out loomed following a tight contest only for Queensland-raised Chris Harold to find a winner for the Glory to win 1-0 three minutes from the end.
Melbourne City routed Wellington Phoenix 5-1 after racing to a three-goal advantage by the half-hour mark on home turf.
There were five different goalscorers for City including highly-regarded Uruguayan debutant Bruno Fornaroli, with the match also notable for the awarding of four penalties by referee Lucien Laverdure.
The final match saw Heidelberg United score at either end of their home encounter against fellow former National Soccer League club Sydney United for a 2-0 victory.
– AAP
