By Bill Roumeliotis
The league difference between the two teams did not impact the Australia Cup semi-final, as South Melbourne FC, competing with a makeshift lineup, had every chance to secure victory against a lethargic Macarthur FC.
But in the end, Macarthur FC advanced to the Australian Cup final thanks to a questionable penalty that only the referee saw, following a dive by a Macarthur forward near the end of the match.
On Sunday at Lakeside Stadium, in front of approximately 4,200 spectators, South Melbourne fielded a team missing Sawyer, Marshall, Archibald, and Evans, and early in the second half, Bonada left the field injured.
Despite these setbacks, South Melbourne played evenly against their opponent and had two significant opportunities early in the game to take the lead, including a close-range shot from Max Mickolla that was saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper, Felix Courto.
In the second half, the visitors had more possession but failed to create a scoring opportunity. They found the net in the 83rd minute with a controversial “gift” penalty awarded by referee Ben Abraham. He called a penalty on a dive by Hollman in the penalty area, which Valere Germain converted into a goal. The scorer from Macarthur was sent off at the end of the match with a second yellow card.
The defeat and elimination of South Melbourne from the Cup Final closed the curtain on the season for the “Blue and Whites” who departed with heads held high. It was a year filled with successes, befitting the history of South Melbourne.
