South Coast Flame travelled to Jensen Park to take on State League rivals FC Gazy Auburn in the Round 4 of the FFA Cup. Both sides came into the match looking to bounce back from defeats in the league and on the night it was FC Gazy who came out on top thanks to a winner in the third minute of added on time.

The first major opportunity of the match fell in favour of FC Gazy in the 25th minute. Andrew Alvarenga dribbled into the right of the box and blasted it near post only for Matt White to pull off a solid block to knock the ball out for a corner.

In the 28th minute, Flame came close to opening the scoring when Caleb Grace won a freekick on the edge of the box. Matt Mazevski took the set piece and his effort was destined for the top left corner but Andrea Gabrielli pulled off a solid save to force a corner. From the corner, Wade Wilton found the head of Mazeski in the middle of the box but the number 10’s header sailed wide.

Moments later it was FC Gazy who had a couple of chances, Panyar Maliet forced White into another save be before Jack Wetney jinked around two defenders before his shot whizzed past the right post.

With only two minutes left in the opening half, Flame went close on another two occasions. Julio Mushaba flew down the right flank and cut the ball back to Mazevski just outside the 18-yard box and his low drive aimed for inside the left post produced a parrying save by Gabrielli. FC Gazy failed to clear the ball and Wilton was able to cross it back in for Mushaba but the winger couldn’t direct his header on target leaving the score at nil-all going into the interval.

Within the first minute of the second half, the home side took the lead. FC Gazy forward Javier Salinas slalomed through the Flame backline before executing a delicate lob that found the back of the net leaving White stranded.

On the hour mark, South Coast had an excellent opportunity to draw level. Mazevski shimmied his way into space inside the box before blasting his effort over from point-blank range. Mazevski would redeem himself 10 minutes later by winning a penalty that he duly converted with a thumping effort into the bottom left corner.

With five minutes left in the match, Auburn were reduced to ten men after John Di Biase picked up a second yellow card. This booking being for a cynical foul to bring down Grace who was about to instigate a promising counter-attack.

Despite Flame having a man advantage, the match seemed set for extra time before FC Gazy jagged a winner in the third minute of added on time. Wetney had a shot inside the box which deflected off a Flame defender before falling to Salinas around the penalty mark, he was able to get an attempt away which deceptively bumbled past White to sneak into the bottom left corner, kissing the post on the way in. South Coast sent bodies forward in the final two minutes of the match but it was to no avail with FC Gazy progressing to the fifth round with a 2-1 win.

After the match, Mazevski admitted it was frustrating not to go through to the next round, “It’s disappointing considering they went down a man. We thought we would be able to capitalise and get the win but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Despite the defeat, Mazevski was keen to point out the side’s two First Grade debutants who have been performing in the under 20s in their first two matches, "Even though it wasn’t the result we wanted it was good to see young Johnny [Vicoroski] and Aota [Saito] get a run in First Grade.”

It won’t be long until Flame can seek revenge with the two side’s set to meet on ANZAC Day to contest the Round 1 catch up match. For now, however, Flame's attention turns to Saturday’s Round 3 match at home to top of the table Bankstown United with the main game kicking off at 5 pm.

 

Wednesday 11 April @ Jensen Park

FC Gazy Auburn - 2 (SALINAS 46’ 90+3’)

South Coast Flame FC - 1 (MAZEVSKI 70’ pen)

 

South Coast Flame FC lineup - Matt WHITE (C), Andrew BOVA, Andrew CHRISTIE, Caleb GRACE, Cameron HANSON, Kenny JAMES, Matt MAZEVSKI, Julio MUSHABA, Martin THOMPSON, Doug WOODIWISS, Wade WILTON

Subs - Djordje UZELAC (on for THOMPSON, Aota SAITO (on for WILTON), Johnny VICOROSKI (on for HANSON), Colin HEAPY

Coach - Paul Robaard

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

Photo by Brian Heapy