When it comes to Australia Cup drama, if you can name it, South Melbourne has been through it.
They’ve weathered cupsets, hated rivals, and multiple rounds of extra time to become the only state-level side in the semifinals.
But if Souths want to host the big dance, they’ll have to beat Macarthur FC, the last Sydney team standing who know a thing or two about playing Goliath when it matters.
Before these Bulls and Lakers go at it like it’s the 1991 NBA Finals again, let’s review what they did to make it here and how they can earn that coveted spot in the final.
In their four previous meetings with Hume City this year, South Melbourne had taken a 1-0 win every time.
However, the Turks would quickly flip the script on their Greek rivals, as Mark Ochieng sent in a cross and Josh Bingham slid in untouched to stamp it home and take the early lead in the 12th minute.
Souths would swing hard for their retaliatory punch, but it didn’t arrive until early in the second half, when a Hume handball gave Harry Sawyer a penalty chance, and he made good on it with a confident strike to equalize the game.
From there, the Greeks played a generally better second half all-around, and they’d be rewarded in the 73rd, as Jordan Lampard launched one into the box and Max Mikkola gave it just the right header touch to put Souths up 2-1.
But Hellas didn’t even get a moment to consider victory before Andalouspor responded. Aamir Abdallah, Hume’s hero this entire tournament, came through once again, as he set up Lachlan Weier to launch an absolute rocket from outside the box and re-tie it at 2-2.
With the teams still level after 90 and stoppage, we went to extra time, where Souths’ possession became absolutely suffocating – in the first 15 minutes alone, they held the ball 78% of the way.
That added up to what mattered in the 115th when Lampard rushed in on a seemingly dealt-with cross and headed it in to give Hellas another lead.
Despite Mickel Platt’s best efforts, Hume City couldn’t send it to penalties, and South Melbourne completed the season sweep over their frustrated enemies.
With this win, Souths are back in the semis for the first time since 2017, and they’ll do anything to make sure that this time, the Sydney side they’re hosting can’t stop them.
Two years to the day from their showdown in the 2022 semifinals, Macarthur and newly-crowned NPL Victoria champions Oakleigh Cannons had their rematch at the Home of the Matildas.
The last affair ended 5-2 in the Bulls’ favour, and they picked up right where they left off when Marin Jakoliš intercepted an Oakleigh pass and lined it on a rope to Valère Germain, who took command with an amazing run halfway across the pitch and punched it in with aplomb.
After back-to-back games where Macarthur needed late heroics from their Ligue 1 alumni, the Bulls’ new dynamic duo had now ambushed their way to a lead in just the third minute.
From there, the match quickly established itself as a tense, physical affair – and Macarthur would be increasingly thankful for their early pickpocketing because they didn’t get many more chances like it.
The Cannons, meanwhile, couldn’t get their shots to fall, as their six attempts in the first half, ended in three Filip Kurto saves, two blocks, and a miss.
After halftime, the wild sunshower weather became somewhat less schismatic, but the nature of the fight didn’t change all that much. The main difference was that Kurto turned this from a good day in his career to a great one.
The Pole in goal made five more saves to stop the increasingly frustrated Cannons, and a couple of them went straight into his personal highlight reel.
Compounding the problem was that Oakleigh manager Chris Taylor made the bizarre choice to withhold his substitutes until deep into the second half, even knowing his team was playing on shorter rest from the previous week’s gruelling title fight.
By the time Taylor did make his first sub, Macarthur’s Mile Sterjovski had made several swaps of his own and ensured the Bulls would have fresher legs down the final stretch.
From that point on, Macarthur stopped the Cannons from shooting at all, and while the Bulls did attempt to double their advantage late, they wouldn’t ultimately need to.
Despite putting up a better fight than two years ago, the Cannons once again fell at Macarthur’s hands, and the Bulls now look to repeat the feat and punch their ticket to a second Australia Cup final in three years.
As usual in these interleague clashes, Macarthur will enter as the favourites, with all manner of proven talent in the lineup.
They should also prove hardened to the pressures of the road—they’ve had no chance to play in Campbelltown and fall back on their home crowd in this tournament, but they’ve been clutch every round regardless.
That said, South Melbourne has proven capable of weathering pretty much any storm this cup throws at them with a lot of gritty play and a little well-timed scoring.
They’ll also be far more prepared if this goes beyond full-time, having now survived it in back-to-back rounds.
However, the spiciest and most crucial move may have already taken place in the front office.
Right after the quarterfinals, and right before the transfer window closed, Macarthur signed Harry Sawyer away from South Melbourne, taking a crucial attacking threat and locker room leader off the chessboard.
With all the inside intel he can share, the Bulls could hit Hellas where it hurts and stampede through to the final – but on the flip side, if Souths take it personally and channel their anger well, we could see the most important cupset yet.
Either way, this is a can’t-miss clash.
Editors note: Melbourne Victory won the first semi-final of the Australia Cup against Adelaide 1-0.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Luka Jovanovic has scored in the 92nd minute to fire his side to an A-League Men 2-1 win and snap Macarthur FC's six-game undefeated run.
Came as it did in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of a Jed Drew-inspired Macarthur, Western Sydney star Juan Mata is hopeful his…
A second-half strike by Central Coast teenage sensation Haine Eames has secured a 1-1 away A-League Men draw with 10-man Macarthur FC. The home…
Central Coast may be wounded after a 4-0 thrashing by Adelaide United, but Macarthur FC won't be underestimating them in their home clash. The…
Bolstered by a remarkable bicycle kick goal by Ariath Piol, winger Marin Jakolis has scored late to fire Macarthur to a 2-1 win over…
Eli Adams has inspired the Newcastle Jets to the ultimate smash-and-grab win, scoring twice in a 2-1 A-League Men victory over Macarthur. Adams' four-minute…
