Oakleigh Cannons 1 FNQ Heat 1 (5-4)

Oakleigh Cannons 1 (AET, win 5-4 on penalties)

(Piemonte (93')

Far North Queensland Heat 1

Gosling (119’)

The Heat enjoyed the best chance of a tight first half four minutes before the break, impressive playmaker Crios O'Hare breaking down the right and finding Joshua Pin, who saw his shot to the far corner of the Oakleigh goal saved by John Honos.

The hosts had the better of the second half, Jake Mclean hitting the post with a half-volley, while Mirjan Pavlovic and Sean Rooney were both guilty of missing presentable chances.

While neither side could find a way through in the regulation 90, it took just three minutes of extra-time for Dean Piemonte to give Oakleigh the lead, the substitute curling home a stunning free-kick from long range.

A late Heat siege on the Cannons' goal saw the pressure continually build,  midfielder Jamie Gosling sending it to penalties when he dispatched a curling shot to the far corner with John Honos getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out in a dramatic end to the game.

In the shootout, a panenka from Pavlovic was the highlight as the home side squeezed home after Thomas Massey-Stumpe missed his kick for Heat. 

The Cannons now have a Round of 16 clash to look forward to but for Heat, it was a tough way to end a long journey.