FFA Cup wrap: Cup shock in WA

There was penalty-shootout drama and a stack of goals on a thrilling weekend of FFA Cup preliminary round action in Western Australia over the weekend.

We’re now down to the last four teams remaining, with just two spots left to make the FFA Cup Round of 32.

And there was a Cup boilover as lower-league Gwelup Croatia beat NPL1 opposition to move just 90 minutes away from the Round of 32.

David Heagney was the hero for Gwelup, who needed extra-time to get past Subiaco 2-1.

Heagney equalised just after the hour mark to get his side to extra-time before springing the offside trap to slot past keeper Ryan Montgomery in the first-half of the extra period.

While Gwelup’s victory was dramatic, there was a shootout required to see Floreat advance to the last four.

Like Gwelup, Floreat came from a goal down to force extra-time as Calvin Whitney cancelled out Richard Howles’ opener for Perth SC.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the extra 30 minutes and it was Floreat who held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to advance.

The other two quarter-finals were far more routine with Armadale and ECU Joondalup registering big wins.

Armadale had too much firepower for NPL2 outfit Dianella White Eagles, with three goals in a 10-minute period late on handing them a 5-2 win.

And ECU Joondalup were even more impressive, with a first-half hat-trick by Daryl Nicol helping them to a 5-0 rout of Forrestfield United.

The draw for the FFA Cup Preliminary Round Seven in WA will take place on Tuesday.

The winners of the two semi-final clashes will enter the draw for the Round of 32 to be WA’s representatives in the FFA Cup.

  • Lead image courtesy of Tim Yorke