Legend Boland back from the brink as Olympic Kingsway stun Melbourne Victory in Australia Cup

Olympic Kingsway delivered one of the great nights in WA football as they came from behind three times to knock Melbourne Victory out of the Hahn Australia Cup on Tuesday.

In front of over 3,000 supporters at a raucous Kingsway Reserve, cup legend Liam Boland came off the bench to score twice against the A-League giants and secure a famous 4-3 win.

The final whistle sparked a jubilant pitch invasion, with ecstatic fans engulfing Olympic players and head coach David Tough who can look forward to the Round of 16 for the second year running.

And for Boland, who extended his all-time Australia Cup goals record, it was a personal triumph just weeks after re-signing for the Green Machine after being sidelined with a serious back injury since the end of last season.

“It’s a bit of an emotional one as I didn’t think I’d play again after my injury last year,” he said.

“I spent 10 months out and I’m nowhere near the fitness I want to be. It’s been really difficult because I love the game, but I’m really lucky to be at this this club. I’m just grateful to Toughy and all the lads who provided me the opportunity – nights like this make it all worthwhile.”

Boland has now scored 15 times in the Australia Cup and his return last night equalled the brace he scored against Adelaide United last year.

“It’s a special competition. I’ve never really said it but I’ve felt hard done by not going to the next level in football, and I’ve always felt a bit of a grudge and a chip on my shoulder when it comes to this competition.

“Every A-League team I’ve played against I’ve managed to hit the net now. I’m at an age now where I’m not going to play professionally, but I like to prove I am good enough.

“Some of their goals were world-class. So to beat them 4-3 when they score goals like that was special. I’m just so happy to be a part of it.”

Victory demonstrated their quality from the start, and it needed a brilliant diving stop from Adrian Sinagra to keep out Zinedine Machach’s free-kick after only two minutes.

Olympic’s first opportunity fell to Luke Hewings, who pulled his effort wide at the back post, and moments later the home side fell behind courtesy of an excellent strike from Jordi Valadon that hit the right post before finding its way in.

But Kingsway weren’t trailing for long and a handball in the box by Machach gave Kingsway the chance to equalise from the spot. Captain Mitchell Oxborrow took the responsibility and he fired low beyond his former Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory teammate Jack Duncan in the Victory goal.

The game seemed set to be all-square at the break only for Victory to re-establish their lead on the stroke of half-time. Keegan Jelacic latched onto a ball on the left of the box and slotted an effort inside the near post.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser in the second half and after seeing one effort hit the crossbar, Joe Hobson rammed the ball into the roof of the net on 70 minutes for 2-2.

Kingsway’s pursuit of an upset was handed a boost in the 78th minute when Victory’s West Australian defender Joshua Rawlins was sent off for a foul on Lebib Lebib.

Despite the momentum going Olympic's way, Reno Piscipo came off the bench for the away side to unleash a curling rocket from the edge of the area that went high into the net two minutes from the end.

It looked like Olympic were going to endure another Hahn Australia Cup near miss, as they did against Adelaide in 2024. However, with only seconds remaining, substitute Boland produced another special moment to send the game to extra-time. The striker pounced on Lebib’s right-sided cross, side-footing a powerful effort into the back of the net.

The excitement carried on into the first period of extra-time. The crossbar denied Victory's Jelacic a second before the impressive Laat Mathiang was brought down for another penalty to the home side. Boland took responsibility and calmly placed the ball inside the right post, earning Olympic a historic Round of 16 place on a night the club will never, ever forget.