South Melbourne FC have won the 2024 Dockerty Cup, surviving the second half of extra time down a player to win 5-4 penalties at The Home of the Matildas on Saturday afternoon.
In what was an extremely hard-fought affair, the match remained scoreless through the entire 120 minutes of regulation play, the match largely void of massive goal-scoring chances until the latter stages.
In the end, it was South that prevailed through the lottery of the penalty shootout, their goalkeeper and Jimmy Mackay medal winner, Javier Lopez proving crucial with two saves to hand them the trophy.
Post-game, South Melbourne Captain Harry Sawyer paid tribute to their opposition and his team for the commitment that’s driven them so far in the competition.
“It went right down to the wire, it could have gone either way,” he said.
“Penalties is an unfortunate way to go out, but [Oakleigh] should hold your head high, you played really well and pushed us all the way.
“I just want to say thank you also to the federation and also our loyal fans, everyone that came out today. You pushed us over the line and brought us home today.
“Also want to thank all the families of the players, we get up early for training, 6am roll out of bed, probably wake you up, thanks a lot.”
In what was an uncharacteristically calm and measured first half, both teams were content early to feel each other out with no chances of any significance in the first 45.
A yellow card brandished to Oakleigh’s Stefan Valentini for an extremely physical challenge from behind, whilst battling to win an aerial ball early in the second period, was the boiling point that seemed to spark both teams into action and stepped up the tempo of the game.
In the minutes that followed, a flurry of chances fell South’s way. First a Harry Sawyer header that almost skimmed the post on its way over the byline.
Then, one of South’s most prolific goal scorers of this year’s cup run, Andy Brennan who fired an extremely dangerous ball across the face of the goal that went unfound, before Brennan again found himself on the edge of the box, but his shot went straight into the hands of Oakleigh’s Nick Feely.
The chances went each way though, a deep cross from the Cannons’ Emlyn Wellsmore expertly placed, finding Alex Salmon who was unable to convert from close range.
Tempers flared again as Wellsmore committed to a hard ground tackle, taking Sawyer’s feet with him and sending the talisman to the ground clutching at his ankles.
A yellow card did not do much to calm South’s protests, but the passion of the game was alive and well, heading towards the extra 30.
It was again South’s big man Sawyer rising high off a corner, his resulting header a few feet wide, unable to break the deadlock before the first 15 of extra time expired.
The state of the game shifted massively however when South’s Max Mikkola was sent for an early shower for making contact to the throat of Brodie Boyce just before half time of extra time.
The final 15 of extra time was all Oakleigh as they pressed home their man advantage and created plenty of big opportunities in front of goal.
Asad Kasumovic hit the post off a header, whilst the best save of the match from Lopez denied Alex Salmon’s curling effort from the shoulder of the box.
Despite their persistent pressure, the Cannons were unable to find the breakthrough they needed, sending the game to the lottery of a penalty shootout.
An early save from Lopez meant South held the advantage through most of the first five, until a must-save attempt was remarkably kept out by Feely.
But it was again Lopez who stepped up when South Melbourne needed him most, saving the first effort in sudden death, capping off a remarkable cup final from the South Melbourne keeper.
The save paved the way for Lucas Inglese to step up and slot home the winning penalty, clinching the match and the 100th edition of the Dockerty Cup.
South’s record-equalling ninth Dockerty Cup triumph will be just the first trophy in their sights this season, as they currently sit six points clear at the top of the NPL Men’s ladder with two rounds to play.
Source: Football Victoria.
