GCC Knocked Out In Cup Upset
Words: Matt Dorman
Additional Reporting: Mark Guy
Image: Getty Images
Gold Coast City will miss the Westfield FFA Cup Final Rounds for the first time after slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Surfers Paradise Apollo at Duncan McKenna Field.
In a tight arm-wrestle, the BLK Premier League club advanced to within two matches of the Round 32 as Wade Russell’s 77th minute goal proved the difference.
City have reached the national stages in both of the competition’s two seasons but will now have to focus solely on their PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues commitments.
Surfers Paradise must next overcome SWQ Thunder in one of two hurdles standing between the community club and a maiden Round of 32 appearance.
Key Moments
30’ – CHANCE FOR SURFERS – Bulcin Yorulmaz rattles City’s crossbar before Shane Viitakangas tips Brandon Gomez’s follow-up behind for a corner.
48’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Daniel Dragicevic surges down the left and crosses for Rhys Saunders, whose right-foot shot is parried by Surfers ‘keeper Faider Royer-Mejia.
70’ – CHANCE FOR SURFERS – Yorulmaz latches onto a long clearance and fires a stinging shot which Viitakangas pushes over the crossbar.
75’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Jordan Lampard’s flat cross from the left is flicked marginally wide of the post by Jarrod Kyle.
77’ – GOAL FOR SURFERS – Surfers win possession following a scramble and, at close-range, Wade Russell makes no mistake in sidefooting home Gomez’s cross from the right.
82’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Royer-Mejia saves amid a goalmouth scramble in Surfers’ penalty area.
89’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Jordon Lampard swings in a corner but Tim Jackson heads over the late opportunity.
What They Said
“We have no-one to blame but ourselves. We weren’t good enough, it’s pretty simple. They out-battled us, out-fought us, out-scrapped us. We didn’t play (as) well (as) we can play. We tried to battle with them and if you’re going to do that you have to out-battle them and we didn’t do it. Surfers fully deserve their win – there’s no complaints from that point of view.” – Grae Piddick, Gold Coast City FC coach.
Match Details
Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 5
Wednesday, 27 April
Duncan McKenna Field, Gold Coast
Gold Coast City FC – 0
Surfers Paradise Apollo SC – 1 (Wade RUSSELL 77’)
CLICK HERE for the official Westfield FFA Cup Match Centre
Referee – Avi COHEN
Assistant – Mitch MILLER
Assistant – Chris LONG
Fourth – Michael BURLONE
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