There was heartache for Olympic Kingsway tonight as their Hahn Australia Cup run was ended in the Round of 16 by Brisbane City after a penalty shoot-out.
City prevailed 4-3 on penalties at Imperial Corp Stadium after the game had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Will Richards fired Kingsway in front early in the second half, only for Ethan Docherty to head Brisbane level soon after.
Will Richards, left, celebrates his goal. Photo by Getty Images
The outstanding Adrian Sinagra gave Olympic the advantage in the shoot-out with another fine stop. However, Laat Mathiang and Harley Orr then saw their spot-kicks saved by former Perth Glory Youth keeper Josh Langdon, and it was the home side who advanced to the quarter-finals.
Olympic, who were bidding to become the first Football West team to reach the last eight, reached this stage for the second successive year on the back of their famous win over A-League Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago.
The game had a cagey opening with both sides eager to avoid conceding an early goal. It burst into life around 20 minutes in with Joe Hobson’s point-blank shot for Kingsway expertly batted away by City keeper Langdon.
Josh Samson gets in a block for Kingsway. Photo by Getty Images
The two goalkeepers continued to stand out, and in the 40th minute Sinagra produced a magnificent double save from close quarters for the visitors. Kingsway desperately repelled this late first-half barrage from City, with Sinagra again saving low, to go in at half-time all square.
Olympic made the breakthrough just before the hour mark when Mathiang picked out Richards on the left of the box, who lashed the ball into the top right corner.
It took only a few minutes for the home side to restore parity. Corey Brown whipped in a left-sided cross for Docherty to crash in and bury a header at the far post.
Referee Zac Keenan gets in between Olympic's Lebib Lebib and Jakob Mudnic of City. Photo by Getty Images
The sides could not find a winner in what remained of regular time, needing extra-time.
City started the extra period with great purpose, keeping their opponents pushed back in their defensive half, with the left side providing a promising outlet. However, the teams once again could not be separated, leaving a penalty shootout to decide who would face either Avondale FC or APIA Leichhardt in the last eight.
Unfortunately for David Tough's side, it was Brisbane who advanced as Langdon shone in the shootout.
Olympic Kingsway line up ahead of the game at Brisbane City. Photo by Getty Images
