Damian Mori believes Adelaide City's run to the Westfield FFA Cup quarter-finals has put them back on the map of Australian football.
The Zebras, who won the National Soccer League three times between 1986 and 1994, made headlines with a giant-killing won over Western Sydney Wanderers FC in the round of 32.
A possible semi-final showdown with Adelaide United loomed as they led 1-0 with two minutes remaining away to Bentleigh Greens on Wednesday night in the quarter finals, only for the hosts to force extra-time and then run out 2-1 winners.
Despite the disappointment of their exit in the last eight, Mori was able to focus on the positives of his team's involvement.
"For our club, it's put us back on the map," he said.
"When we beat the Wanderers we were front page for about five days in a row in Adelaide, we got good coverage all over Australia.
"That's what this tournament's all about, the smaller teams beating the big teams.
"I think it's not just been positive for our club, it's been positive for football, hasn't it?
"When you get the NPL clubs playing against A-League clubs, the involvement has been good. I think this Cup can only get better."
Having already finished their respective league seasons, both teams struggled with the demands of playing 30 additional minutes at the Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, prompting Mori to call for a slight re-think of the tournament's schedule ahead of the 2015 edition.
"They may tinker with the format next year, make it a bit more friendly for the NPL clubs," he said.
"If that happens, I can only see this Cup getting even better."
