Fremantle City’s attempt to become the first Football West club to make the last eight of the Hahn Australia Cup ended in heartache as they went out on penalties to South Melbourne.
Freo lost 3-1 in the shoot-out away to the Victoria NPL side on Sunday night after their Round of 16 tie had finished 3-3 after extra-time.
The hosts made a dominant start to the match and burst into a two-goal within the first 20 minutes.
Arran Cocks opened the scoring 12 minutes in with a spectacular effort. He cut inside from the left and picked out the top right corner via the post.
Eight minutes later, David Yoo doubled Hellas’ advantage with a smart finish to convert Jack Painter-Andrews’ right-sided cross.
But City’s never-say-die spirit came to the fore and they were level by half-time.
On 32 minutes tucked away a penalty, awarded after South keeper Jake Charlston wiped out Chad Nilson.
And only four minutes later, the visitors drew level, carrying on their comeback ways from the Round of 32 win against Maitland. Cameron Edwards latched onto Riley Woodcock’s long ball into the left channel and smartly headed it past the onrushing keeper.
Fremantle completed a remarkable turnaround soon after half-time when Shubham Mokala raced through to lob Charlston But South Melbourne’s pressure eventually told when they were awarded a spot-kick which Bul Juach put away.
Both sides had chances in extra-time without finding a winner, which meant penalties. Nick Ambrogio converted Fremantle’s first, but Chechlacz, Iljas Ahmedov and Riley Woodcock all saw their efforts saved by Charlston, which meant it was the NPL Victoria side that went through to the quarter-finals.
It was a tough way to exit for Fremantle, for whom keeper Luke Radonich and defenders George Festa and Ben Steele were outstanding under intense pressure.
Fremantle now return to the New Balance NPL WA Men’s competition where they play their penultimate game of the season away to Perth Glory this Saturday. At the end of the month they take on Bayswater City in the State Cup final.
