Curtin send Knights crashing out of Hahn Australia Cup
The run of upsets in the Hahn Australia Cup continued on the weekend as State League strugglers Curtin University won 3-2 at New Balance NPL side Western Knights.
Curtin are rock bottom of Division One with a single point from their opening five matches, while Knights are just three points off the top in the NPL. But that counted for nothing as Troy Reid's side sent Knights spinning out with a brilliant extra-time victory in Preliminary Round Five.
Things looked on course for Knights after Aaron Pike's opener, only for Gaspar Becerra Zuljevic to level for the visitors not long after. There were no further goals before full-time, which meant an extra 30 minutes, and it was Curtin who seized the initiative.
First Jude Baillie then Jason Stewart had the hosts on the rocks, and while Luke Hewings pulled one back near the end, nothing was going to rob Curtin of their place in WA's last eight.
Morley Windmills of Division Two also punched above their weight, beating first division Cockburn City 3-1 at Wotton Reserve. Cockburn led via Oliver Carr, but a Gino Hampshire double and a goal from Gabriel Elias Vasques turned the tie in Windmills' favour.
Division Two East Perth were the story of the previous round with their win over State Cup holders Stirling Macedonia. But they were unable to repeat the feat, with NPL outfit Dianella White Eagles showing the gulf in class with a 7-1 victory at Dianella Reserve. Ben Hinshelwood got a hat-trick for White Eagles, with Franc Gamiz Quer, Daniel Zivkovic, Cory McNelis and Sasa Njegic also contributing. Ryan McCready was East Perth's scorer.
NPL leaders Olympic Kingsway remain on track for a third straight national appearance in the cup after they were 1-0 winners at Balcatta Etna. The only goal came in the first half when the unlucky Jesse Fuller turned the ball into his own goal from Will Ferson's cross.
Reigning NPL champions Bayswater City were pushed all the way at Division One Joondalup City before prevailing 1-0, Oli La Galia's goal before the interval deciding the tie.
Two late goals gave NPL Fremantle City a 3-1 victory over Division Two Wembley Downs. The game was in the balance after Wembley's Billy Templeton-Knight cancelled out Nic Ambrogio's early penalty. But Paul Zimarino and a Charlie Chechlacz penalty sealed the result for Freo.
Perth RedStar, second in the NPL, beat Division One Inglewood United 3-0 thanks to a Jacob Evans brace and a stoppage-time effort from Matty George.
And in the all-Division Two tie, Rockingham City survived a late wobble to advance 4-3 at Ashfield.
Rockingham looked to be cruising when Shaun Mukwevho made it 4-1 in the 88th minute, adding to goals from Brian Patterson, Graham Tough and Mitchell Foley. But Ashfield, who had earlier levelled through Kian Durant, gave the visitors a scare when Robert Toto and Oleksandr Pozhar scored in added-on time.
The draw for Preliminary Round Six will take place this week.
Results
Hahn Australia Cup Preliminary Round Five
Ashfield 3-4 Rockingham City
Balcatta Etna 0-1 Olympic Kingsway
Dianella White Eagles 7-1 East Perth
Fremantle City 3-1 Wembley Downs
Joondalup City 0-1 Bayswater City
Morley Windmills 3-1 Cockburn City
Perth RedStar 3-0 Inglewood United
Western Knights 2-3 Curtin University (aet; 1-1 at 90 mins)