Source :- THE AGE NEWS
South Melbourne have become the first non A-League team to win the Australia Cup after beating Melbourne Victory on penalties in an emotion-charged blockbuster final.
In one of the greatest nights in Australian domestic soccer history, former NSL powerhouses South first took Victory to extra time then fought back from 1-0 down to level it at 1-1 at the death before winning 4-3 on penalties in front of a pumping sellout crowd of 29,911 fans at AAMI Park.
South Melbourne, who have long craved an A-League licence, only strengthened their bid for that with a win that capped off an extraordinary evening.
Denis Genreau scored an athletic, improvised half-volley in the 95th minute to put Victory in front, before Max Mikkola forced home an equaliser in the 117th minute to send the game to penalties and the crowd into ecstasy.
In the penalty shootout, South goalkeeper Javier Lopez was the hero, denying former South captain Harrison Sawyer, before Victory skipper Jason Davidson hit his must-score penalty over the bar.
In becoming the first NPL team to win the Australia Cup, Sinisa Cohadzic’s South succeed where Heidelberg last year and Sydney United 58 in 2022 could not.
With the win, South also technically claim a berth in next season’s Asian Champions League 2 competition.
The defeat also extends Victory’s silverware drought, with the club’s most recent trophy the 2021 Australia Cup.
The nearly 30,000 people here tonight will remember this forever. What a win, what an occasion.
South Melbourne becomes the first team from outside the A-League to win the Australia Cup, coming back from 1-0 down – it should have been 2-0, when Javier Lopez saved that shot on Santos – to equalise just three minutes before the end of extra time. And then they go and win the shootout 4-3, with the son of their former star Alan Davidson spooning his shot over the crossbar.
The south end of AAMI Park is going off.
Denis Genreau converts his penalty for Melbourne Victory. Pressure now back on South Melbourne and their next taker, Andrew Mesourouni… it’s IN.
All on Jason Davidson now… he has to score to keep Melbourne Victory in this. Against the team his old man used to play for… this is incredible theatre.
HE PUTS IT OVER THE BAR! SOUTH MELBOURNE HAVE WON THE AUSTRALIA CUP!
VICTORY: XOXXO
SOUTH: XXXX
Jordan Swibel up next for South Melbourne, and he sneaks it under Jack Duncan. They are 2-1 up now in this shootout.
Over to you, Michael Ghossaini… it’s also saved, but it bounces over Lopez and goes in.
Back to South Melbourne, and to the lively substitute James Lackey. Great pen, hits the back of the net.
VICTORY: XOX
SOUTH: XXX
Whoa! The former South Melbourne man, who now plays for Victory, has his penalty saved by Javier Lopez! That’s huge for Hellas!
No, wait … it’s being retaken. Lopez clearly came off his line. That’s fair enough. Can Sawyer make up for it?
NO, IT’S SAVED AGAIN! ADVANTAGE SOUTH!
VICTORY: XO
SOUTH: X
OK, so here we go… after 120 minutes, with scores locked at 1-1, it’ll be decided from the penalty spot.
First up it’s Guillermo May for Melbourne Victory.
He scores.
For Victory, it’s captain Marco Jankovic in response, and he scores in almost the exact same spot. 1-1.
VICTORY: X
SOUTH: X
Hooley dooley.
The 2026 Australia Cup will be decided on a penalty shootout.
Get to a TV!
The momentum feels like it’s all with one team, and one team only: South Melbourne.
HELLAS. HELLAS. HELLAS. That’s the chant ringing around AAMI Park right now.
This atmosphere, my goodness… this game. Words won’t suffice. If you can get to a television screen or a mobile phone with the appropriate app… go! Now! What are you doing??
