Huge moment for football. Keen for a Super Cup.

Huge moment for football. Keen for a Super Cup.

Forgot to mention, there is a Super Cup in the SA NPL next year. I'd say that could be a pointer to having one for the A-League/FFA Cup.

But Melbourne Victory already has an intraclub match each preseason.

Do you hav a sauce? Sounds great.

I am suffering memory loss can someone please remind me which A-League club is the FIRST and ONLY A-League club to get dicked by a State League team in the FFA Cup?

Edited by scotty21: 16/12/2014 11:28:13 AM

I am suffering memory loss can someone please remind me which A-League club is the FIRST and ONLY A-League club to get dicked by a State League team in the FFA Cup?

Edited by scotty21: 16/12/2014 11:28:13 AM

Zadkovic is super shit but.

Congrats to the reds. Been a long time to add some silverware( and a lot of runners up spots to victory in seasons 2 and 4). Now Perth are REALY overdue for some silverware. At least in an ok position for this year.

Mabil is dreadful. Should have buried that. Fuck, even Zadkovich would have gotten it on target.

Mabil is dreadful. Should have buried that. Fuck, even Zadkovich would have gotten it on target.

THE FFA Cup promised magic, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

The inaugural competition was a resounding success, culminating in Adelaide United being crowned the history-making winners at a rocking Coopers Stadium on Tuesday night.

Cup football returned to Australia for the first time since 1968, with 631 teams from all levels taking part.

We witnessed stunning goals, controversy, the resurgence of fallen giants, new rivalries and minnows punching above their weight.

Here’s what we loved about the FFA Cup. What was your favourite moment?

Former giants of the National Soccer League, which disbanded in 2004, like Melbourne Knights, Sydney Olympic and Brisbane Strikers returned to the national stage in the Cup.

The storied trio — now playing in their respective National Premier Leagues — shared five championships between themselves and produced a host of Socceroos, including Mark Viduka and Brett Emerton.

At risk of being forgotten about since the inception of the A-League, these big names were brought to life and given a chance to recapture their past glories.

We wondered what would be the first major upset and we got our answer on August 12 at Marden Sports Complex when three-time NSL champions Adelaide City defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0.

It took a wondergoal from Thomas Love — who beat five Western Sydney defenders on his way to scoring a memorable and history-making goal in the first FFA Cup match between a semi-professional side and an A-League team.

Love, an 18-year-old university student, said it was a dream to score the landmark goal.

“I was stoked, absolutely stoked. It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “Basically, I just saw the space and ran for it.

“I was planning to pass it off ... but I saw the opportunity so I thought I might as well take it.”

Australians love an underdog and it was no different for the FFA Cup. Two particular fairytale runs captured out hearts — South Springvale and Bentleigh Greens.

South Springvale — the self-described Victorian pub team — compete in the fourth tier of Australian football, but that didn’t faze them as they defeated NPL Victoria side Hume City to qualify for the round of 32 and followed it up with a dramatic penalty shootout win South Cardiff to reach the last 16. Their dream run would go no further, beaten away by Queensland outfit Palm Beach Sharks.

Another Victorian side, Bentleigh Greens — whose assortment of bricklayers and other tradies earn between $200 and $700 a match — went even further, claiming the scalps of Blacktown City, Sydney Olympic and Adelaide City on their way to the semi-finals. They fell just short of a dream appearance in the decider though, A-League leaders Perth Glory ending their giant-killing run.

The sight of the souvlaki cooking at Bentleigh’s Kingston Heath Soccer Complex remains one of the enduring images of the inaugural FFA Cup.

Central Coast Mariners’ routine 5-0 triumph over Palm Beach was by no means a surprise. Matthew Sim’s four goals in 20 minutes off the bench certainly shocked us. As they kept hitting the back of the net, we could scarcely believe what was happening, and judging by his reaction, neither could Sim.

Sim would finish with five goals for the tournament, bettered only by Adelaide’s grand final hero Sergio Cirio’s six.

When Fox Sports conducted the round of 16 draw it seemed too go be to true when Sydney FC and Sydney United — the reigning National Premier Leagues champion — were paired together.

Former Sky Blues skipper Mark Rudan — now coach at United — hosted Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold, a former player at the NSWPL side.

Over 8000 fans flocked to Edensor Park for the tie on September 23, and while there was no upset this time — Sydney FC won it 3-1 — it hardly mattered, a new rivalry was born and fans couldn’t get enough of it.

“It is the biggest game we’ve had there in 15 years, since the major semi-final between us and South Melbourne in 1998/99,” Sydney United president Sam Krslovic said.

“As a football community, we should celebrate the day, this is really bringing the whole of football together. Something we lost when the A-League was formed is now back.”

“It puts us back in the top echelon in football and playing Sydney FC — which is the biggest club in Australia — is a great thing.

The final wasn’t a classic encounter, but the occasion meant it didn’t matter.

Jubilant scenes followed the final whistle at Coopers Stadium on Tuesday night, as Adelaide United fans took in the momentous occasion and savoured their first piece of silverware in eight years.

You couldn’t wipe the smile off Josep Gombau’s face, an ecstatic Bruce Djite climbed on the goals and Socceroos legend and FFA Hall of Famer Mark Vidula presented gamewinner Sergio Cirio with the Mark Viduka medal for the final’s best player.

We can't wait for next season.

I am saying it. FFA Cup is more fun than the league. There said it. No regrets.