Sydney United stuns Brisbane Roar to reach Australia Cup final

Sydney United 58 has become the first non A-League Men club to reach the Australia Cup final. Photo: AAP
Sydney United 58 FC has become the first National Premier League club to reach the Australia Cup final, stunning Brisbane Roar with an extra-time 3-2 semi-final triumph.
A superb volley from United’s Glen Trifiro in the 105th minute was the match winner against the A-League’s Roar in Sunday’s semi.
United will play the October 1 cup final against the winner of Wednesday’s night’s semi-final between the NPL’s Oakleigh Cannons and A-League’s Macarthur FC.
United twice came from a goal down against Roar, ensuring a slice of history as the first non A-League club to reach a cup final since the competition’s inception in 2014.
HISTORY MADE!@SydUtd58FC become the first NPL side to reach the #AustraliaCup Final 🔥🔥#MagicOfTheCup #SUDvBRI pic.twitter.com/R8gql1rXoD
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) September 11, 2022
“You can see how much it means to our proud club,” Trifiro told Network 10 amid wild celebrations among the 3177-strong crowd at Sydney United Sports Centre.
“This is huge for our club … we march on.”
Trifiro’s extra-time winner came after an audacious mid-air side-heel flick from teammate Chris Payne played him into space.
Trifiro swung a sweet volley into the net, capping a remarkable comeback from a club which finished a lowly eighth in NSW’s NPL this year.
Extra time. Glen Trifiro. @SydUtd58FC. 3-2. 😮
🎥 @10FootballAU #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup #SUDvBRI https://t.co/tvR0gkUjkf pic.twitter.com/BQKHM94Fky
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) September 11, 2022
Roar went ahead in 13th minute when Riku Danzaki scored from close range after a slick cutback pass from Henry Hore.
But United hit back in the 24th minute when it turned its first foray into the attacking area into an equaliser from Matt Bilic, who scored with a powerful header after a pinpoint cross from Taisei Kaneko.
The opening half finished on a flashpoint: Brisbane was awarded a penalty when United defender Jordan Roberts was struck on the hand trying to evade a Charlie Austin cross.
The shot by Roar captain Jay O’Shea was saved by United goalkeeper Danijel Nizic, diving full stretch to his left, leaving scores locked 1-1 at halftime.
Antelmi makes it 2-2 with less than 20 minutes left to play 👊
🎥 @10FootballAU #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup #SUDvBRI pic.twitter.com/rWE4P2HPw8
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) September 11, 2022
Nizic couldn’t prevent Brisbane taking a 2-1 lead in the 63rd minute when Roar’s English import Austin scored from the penalty spot.
Austin crashed his spot kick high and straight, giving Nizic no chance, after Brisbane’s Hore was felled in the box by a mistimed challenge from United’s Kaneko.
Riku Danzaki with the go ahead goal for @brisbaneroar 💥
🎥 @10FootballAU #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup #SUDvBRI pic.twitter.com/WprlTZu6xN
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) September 11, 2022
But Roar’s lead was short lived with United again squaring scores just eight minutes later via substitute Patrick Antelmi.
Antelmi turned some 15 metres from goal and fired a left-footer which deflected off the lower leg of Roar’s Anton Mlinaric into the net.
The 2-2 scoreline remained until full-time, setting up Trifiro’s dramatic extra-time winner.
-AAP