Ahead of our Westfield FFA Cup clash with the Newcastle Jets, we take a trip down memory lane to relive some of the most iconic Adelaide United moments in the history of the knockout competition.
Here are our top five moments:
5 – Holders fire six past Darwin Olympic
Adelaide began the 2015 edition of the FFA Cup as inaugural winners of the tournament heading into the round of 32 clash away to Darwin Olympic. It was the Club’s first ever competitive match in the Northern Territory and newly appointed Head Coach, Guillermo Amor’s first in charge.
The Reds got off to the perfect start when Marcelo Carrusca dispatched his penalty to make it 1-0. However, 60 seconds later the hosts would equalise – virtually straight from kick-off. But Adelaide’s quality would eventually come to the fore as Jimmy Jeggo scored a brace in two minutes as half-time approached. The Reds then netted three times in as many minutes late on, courtesy of goals from Sergio Cirio, Eli Babalj and Pablo Sanchez to consign Olympic to a 6-1 hiding – the Club’s biggest Cup win to date.
4 – Dylan McGowan’s extra-time winner
The last 16 encounter versus Sydney FC in 2015 at Coopers Stadium saw an evenly poised match with nothing separating the two sides at full-time. Rhyan Grant opened the scoring for the visitors before Adelaide replied through Pablo Sanchez just prior to the interval. But as the game appeared destined for penalties, up stepped Dylan McGowan. The defender was left unmarked at the back post to calmly finish in the 114th minute. He would receive his marching orders three minutes later, but a 10-man United outfit held on to advance to the quarter finals.
3 – An extra-time brace from Bruce Djite
The 2014 Westfield FFA Cup quarter final with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium was always going to be a tough match. Sergio Cirio struck first for the Reds but Alex Brosque restored parity after the break to force another 30 minutes of action. Striker Bruce Djite, who had come close to scoring earlier in the game, would then single-handedly book Adelaide’s place in the semi-finals. It was a clutch performance from the then 27-year-old as he was unplayable in extra-time, highlighted by two instinctive finishes inside the 18-yard box.
2 – Sergio Cirio’s decisive Cup winner
It was fitting that the player who had set alight the maiden Westfield FFA Cup in the preceding matches would write his name all over the showpiece event. So in a tightly contested final against Perth Glory, at a packed Coopers Stadium, it was sheer destiny when Spaniard Sergio Cirio settled the affair with the solitary goal of the match. After some neat build-up play, Cirio rounded the on-rushing goalkeeper to see his angled finish cross the line – sending the home fans into raptures. The Spaniard was deservedly awarded the Mark Viduka Medal and ended with a tournament-high 6 goals and the first player to score in every round of the competition.
1 – Lifting the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup trophy
Starved of silverware for close to nine years, the Club, supporters and players had to wait no longer. Sergio Cirio’s match-winning goal ensured Adelaide would be enshrined in Westfield FFA Cup folklore, crowned as the inaugural champions of the tournament. All that remained was to lift the trophy. It was a sight to behold for the Reds faithful as the already boisterous atmosphere reached fever pitch when the cup was lifted into the air as a sea of confetti covered the players. A truly unforgettable night.
Adelaide United host Newcastle Jets in the Round of 32 of the 2017 Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday, 9 August at Marden Sports Complex. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACST.
