Martin Boyle’s Hibernian were the first team to book to their spot in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final after winning a seven-goal thriller against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Hibs rallied late to see of the challenge of the Scottish Championship side, 5-2, scoring three goals in the last 19 minutes to advance to the final four with Boyle in outstanding form.
The Socceroos international started at right wing-back as Paul Hanlon saw his 30th-minute penalty saved, before Adam Jackson volleyed the hosts into side a slender half-time advantage at Easter Road.
Scott Allan made it two on 58 minutes from Marc McNulty’s pass after Boyle launched a counter attack, and Boyle was involved in the third as Rangers loanee Greg Doherty extended the lead on 71 minutes.
Carl Tremarco hit back for Cally Thistle a minute later but Brad McKay’s red card dented the away side's comeback attempt and Stephane Omeonga made it 4-1 to Jack Ross’ side on 81 minutes.
Jamie Gullan struck a fifth on 85 minutes, before the visitors grabbed another through Nikolay Todorov, as Hibs took a step closer to a fourth Scottish Cup, a title they last won in 2016.
FAN DAY: Have a kick with your Socceroos before we face Kuwait!
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Amini and Hrustic feature in Europe
Mustafa Amini came on in the 67th minute of AGF’s 0-0 stalemate against Hobro in Denmark’s Superliga.
The Socceroos midfielder replaced Benjamin Hvidt at Aarhus Idraetspark and helped the Whites battle to a deadlocked draw to keep them in third place.
In the Netherlands, Ajdin Hrustic and FC Groningen fell to a 3-1 loss against Willem II at Koning Stadion.
Hrustic made his 22nd start of the Dutch Eredivisie campaign as Ahmed El Messaoudi’s late consolation proved to be in vain for the Green-White Army.
Matthew Leckie made the substitutes bench in Hertha Berlin’s dramatic 3-3 comeback draw against fellow strugglers Fortuna Düsseldorf at Esprit Arena.
The German capital club were 3-0 down at half-time before netting three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes to seal a share of the Bundesliga points.
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Duke repeats history in dramatic Sydney Derby
Back down under, Mitchell Duke once again proved to be the Sydney Derby watch-winner as Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney FC 1-0 on their own turf on Friday night.
Socceroos pair Ryhan Grant and ‘keeper Andrew Redmayne were on the losing side as the runaway Hyundai A-League leaders slipped to their second defeat of the season, both of which have come at the hands of their bitter rivals.
Duke grabbed the only goal when the Harbour City sides clashed back in October and the Red and Black captain, who has six Socceroos caps, repeated his heroics at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with a 81st-minute winner for the seventh-placed side, who had left-back Daniel Georgievski sent off late on.
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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 second round qualifying
Australia v Kuwait
Thursday, 26 March 2020
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 6.00pm local, 9.00pm AEDT
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Nepal v Australia
Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Venue: TBC
Australia v Chinese Taipei
Thursday, 4 June 2020
Venue: TBC
Australia v Jordan
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Venue: TBC
