Words: Michael Flynn
Additonal Reporting: Simon Smale
Image: Getty Images

A ten man Brisbane City prevailed 2-0 in a hard-fought Westfield FFA Cup clash with local rivals Mitchelton FC to record their maiden win in the national knock-out competition.

In a contest littered with missed chances and equal amounts of niggle, City ultimately held their nerve best in front of their home supporters at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.

A penalty from Samuel Sibatuara late in the opening half earned City the lead before the hosts went on the back-foot after the hour following the dismissal of Mitchell Hore.

However, Mitchelton failed to make the most of the extra man and quickly lost their numerical advantage in as Nicholas Bernardi and Jason Shade were both dismissed for second bookable offences.

City regrouped to make certain of the win deep in injury time when star striker Antonio Murray delivered his first ever Westfield FFA Cup goal.

The win is City’s first in three attempts in the Westfield FFA Cup and sees them become one of eight clubs from the greater Brisbane area in the hunt for one of two places on the national stage.

The result also ends third-tier Mitchelton’s best ever return in the national knock-out competition.

Key Moments

3’ – CHANCE FOR MITCHIE – Jacob Mitchell pulls the trigger from just outside the penalty area forcing City goalkeeper Timothy Allen to tip over the crossbar

11’ – CHANCE MITCHY - Benjamin Njie with a sight on goal on the angle but he slides the finish across the face of goal

23’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Antonio Murray scarpers down the right hand side and crosses into Park but he can only send his header over the crossbar

34’ – CHANCE FOR MITCHIE – A low, scuffed free-kick is deflected toward goal by Kensho Yoshikoshi forcing Allen to save high

44’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Park is brought down inside the 18-yard box after luring Yoshikoshi into an ill-timed challenge, allowing Sibatuara to step-up and convert from the penalty spot

53’ – CHANCE FOR MITCHIE – Njie pounces on a loose ball from a Jackson Stubbins free-kick but his effort is denied by a combination of the post and crossbar

66’ – RED CARD FOR CITY – Tim Lawson appears to have a clear run on goal but impeded by Mitchell Hore, who is shown a straight red card for denying the opportunity

69’ – CHANCE FOR MITCHIE – Yoshikoshi gets through one-on-one with Allen but fails to trouble the City gloveman by scooping his shot high

70’ – RED CARD MITCHIE – Murray looks set to rush in on goal but Nicholas Bernardi intervenes by handling the ball away to incur a second yellow card and an early shower

81’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Nicholas Buckley is through on goal but can only direct his attempt straight at Downes

88’ – RED CARD MITCHIE – Jason Shade makes contact with Allen late to earn his second yellow card and join Bernardi in the sheds

90’ – CHANCE FOR MITCHIE – Njie forces a low diving save from Allen from a free-kick on the edge of the area

90+5’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Motoki Kakehi wrong-foots Stubbins and slides a pass across for an unmarked Murray to seal the win with a tap-in.

What They Said

“It’s a cup game – it’s do-or-die, it’s sudden death. You’re going to get games like that, so you’ve got to deal with it…It was good because it was a game where we could learn a lot from it and we got to play against a different opposition. They made it difficult for us and they competed.” - John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 5

Tuesday, April 26
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane

Brisbane City FC – 2 (Samuel SIBATUARA 44’p, Antonio Murray 90+5’)
Mitchelton FC – 0

CLICK HERE for the official Westfield FFA Cup Match Centre

Referee – Alan MILLINER
Assistant – John VASILIADIS
Assistant – Patrick DWYER