DATE WITH DESTINY
Final 32 in FFA Cup beckons after upset victory
JUBILANT but not content.
That is the message out of Coomera as their FFA Cup heroes turn their attention to the biggest moment in the club’s 36-year history.
Already overachievers in reaching Round 7 of the national knockout competition, the Colts continued their giant-killing run on Saturday night with an unlikely 2-1 victory over unbeaten QPL heavyweights Logan Lightning at Viney Park.
A first-half double from Charlie Smith handed the Gold Coast Premier League outfit a 2-0 halftime lead before they survived a late charge from the visitors that included an injury-time goal.
The Colts will now step into the national spotlight in the Round of 32, with one of the 10 A-League clubs a possible opponent when the draw is conducted live on Fox Sports on June 26.
The 16 cup fixtures will then be played over three match days between July 23 and August 7.
Having already defied the odds to overcome NPL side Redlands United and three QPL outfits during their sixgame cup streak, Coomera coach Steve Macdonald said his troops would not be there to make up the numbers in the Round of 32.
“We’ve exceeded expectation but we can do anything when we put our mind to it. We’re obviously going to get a very good team next round again but we’ve beaten an NPL side and QPL sides so there’s no fear from us,” he said.
“We were expecting to go out in Round 4 and we’re on the national stage now. Anything could happen from here so we’ve just got to enjoy it.”
With an estimated crowd of 600 watching, Macdonald said the upset sparked “pure jubilation”.
“I can’t put it into words, it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in football,” he said.
“We were excellent, we had a game plan and we stuck to it. They had the majority of the ball but never really hurt us. It was such a good occasion to be involved in and to be a part of.
“It just beggars belief that little old Coomera are going to be in there alongside Melbourne Victory and Brisbane and those teams. It hasn’t sunk in.”
The Colts’ success followed disappointment for fellow Coast sides Surfers Paradise and Gold Coast Knights, who crashed out of the cup with 2-1 and 5-1 losses to Olympic and Brisbane Strikers, respectively.