A lone Liam Wooding strike was enough for MetroStars to win the Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying Final 1-0 against Adelaide Comets at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

The winger netted from close range in the 52^nd minute to send Rob Saraceno’s team to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 for the second successive season.

Now four-time winners of the Federation Cup, MetroStars defender Michael D’Aloisio said the national stage is where the club wants to be.

“We are ecstatic. It’s another piece of silverware and another chance to participate in the FFA Cup,” he said.

“That’s what we are all about – playing in the big games.

“It’s fantastic for the club and the playing group. We had a slow start to the season, but it’s not the first time we have done that and come home well. We have good players and we are not surprised we have won it.

“Comets were extremely good in the first half and put us under pressure. They were unlucky not to score. But we were resilient and there weren’t too many clear-cut chances.

“We were a lot better in the second half and looked more dangerous. Collectively it was a great performance.”

Adelaide Comets assistant coach Elias Demourtzidis said the team would use the loss as a spur for the remainder of the campaign.

“It’s disappointing. It was a see-sawing game. They were on the front foot and then we had the better of it,” he said.

“They capitalised when they had momentum and we didn’t – that was the difference.

“In the first 15 minutes they came out and we let them play a bit too much. But we didn’t concede and knew we would come into it. Scoring before half-time would have changed the course of the game.

“At half-time the message was to keep going, but we weren’t happy to concede from a set piece.

“We will now concentrate on the league, consolidate our position and build on this to make the finals. We will bounce back, we have a good squad.”

Comets fired the first warning sign in a frantic opening, with Guy Miller’s sweeping drive stopped by Callum Piantadosi in only the second minute.

Travis Dodd nearly added to his impressive collection of Hindmarsh goals when he drilled a shot from distance not far wide of the post three minutes later.

The veteran had another sight at goal, this time putting the ball over the top from Doni Pollock’s cross.

Comets captain Evan Kostopoulos got to the edge of the penalty area but could only hook his attempt wide in the 26^th minute.

Theo Tsiounis’ team should have taken the lead moments later when Jack Bladen found Davide Zerillo in space inside the MetroStars penalty area, only for the defender to be denied by a fine Piantadosi save.

Kostopoulos again dragged another chance off target, as Comets dominated proceedings before half-time.

An improved MetroStars took the lead early in the second half. Wooding ghosted into the penalty area to get on the end of a flicked Dodd header and place the ball past Comets goalkeeper Alexander Woodlands.

Comets peppered the MetroStars goal for the remainder of the contest, without seriously troubling Piantadosi. Theo Balomenos’ cross was glanced wide of the target by Andreas Wiens with 10 minutes remaining.

MetroStars remained dangerous on the counter and Dodd nearly landed a sucker-punch as his shot ended just past the post.

Comets had one last opportunity from an injury time Oliver Zafiridis corner, but Christopher Pepe could only volley into the side netting.

Written by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta