Late showing earns Gold Coast Knights a spot in the Round of 16
Gold Coast Knights have progressed to the FFA Cup Round of 16 courtesy of a hard-fought 2-0 win over Edge Hill United in front of 1,946 spectators at Barlow Park on Tuesday night.
It took until the 85th minute for Knights to find a breakthrough with Jheison Macuace and Dauntae Mariner scoring late on as the Knights grabbed their first ever win on the national stage.
A Macuace spot-kick was converted late on, despite Edge Hill goalkeeper Kevin Ward getting a toe to it, after Ryan Murray was deemed to have fouled Marek Madle inside the penalty area.
Knights substitute Dauntae Mariner added a second for the visitors in the 95th minute, streaking clear of the defence and finishing one-on-one with almost every Edge Hill player caught high up the pitch pushing for an equaliser.
Despite being the lowest-ranked side to reach the national rounds, Edge Hill battled bravely all evening, frustrating a Knights side who held the majority of possession while Crios O’Hare and and Joshua Taylor looked threatening at the other end.
Gold Coast Knights join Brisbane Roar as the second name in the hat for the Round of 16 draw.
Round of 32 action continues on Tuesday, September 21 when defending NPL Queensland Champions, Lions FC, play host to Northern Territory’s Casuarina FC.
KEY MOMENTS
12’ | Chance Knights. Macuace comes close for the visitors, stabbing an effort wide from close range following a scramble in the box.
19’ | Chance Knights. Madle rises highest to meet Nichols cross at the back post but can’t quite direct his header on target.
33’ | Chance Edge Hill. Murray spurns a big chance for the home side, poking a shot over the bar after the ball fell promisingly to him inside the area on the end of an O’Hare corner.
38’ | Chance Knights. Stollery can’t find enough purchase to direct his glancing header on target after being found by a delightful Nichols cross.
39’ | Chance Knights. Macuace scuffs his shot with the goal at his mercy after Madle’s cushioned header found him unmarked inside the area on the end of an impressive move from the visitors.
44’ | Chance Edge Hill. Taylor finds O’Hare with a brilliant through ball before the United number 10 shimmied his way past Ludwik and smashed his shot wide of target from a tight angle.
46’ | Chance Knights. Ward produces a strong save to deny Brown after the visitors create a strong chance in the opening seconds of the second stanza.
46’ | Chance Knights. Ward tips Madle’s goal-bound header over the bar with a fingertip save
85’ | Goal Knights. Macuace slams home a penalty to put Knights in front after Murray fouled Madle inside the area.
86’ | Chance Edge Hill. Taylor rises highest but sends his header wide of the back post.
95’ | Goal Knights. With almost every Edge Hill player thrown forward Knights substitute, Dauntae Mariner picks up the ball in his own half and makes a driving run forward before finishing one-on-one to round out the 2-0 scoreline.
MATCH DETAILS
FFA Cup 2021 - Round of 32: Edge Hill United vs Gold Coast Knights
Barlow Park, Cairns
Wednesday, 15 September
Edge Hill United – 0
Gold Coast Knights – 2 (Jheison MACUACE 85’ Dauntae MARINER 95’)
