Tara Murray
Yarraville Glory has nothing to lose after winning through into the last round of the Victorian stage of the Australia Cup on Tuesday night.
The state league 1 north-west team is the second lowest ranked team left of the 10 teams in the competition, after upsetting the North Sunshine Eagles.
Scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of regular time and the score remained the same after extra time.
The match went down to penalties, with the Glory winning 5-4.
Glory coach Paul Agathouli was ecstatic.
“It’s not good for the heart, but it was good,” he said.
“Getting to the last 10 in Victoria is a big thing for us. We put together a squad for the cup and the regular season.
“We recruited a few boys who have stood up and playing a great season.”
The Glory scored in the 15th minute to take an early lead before the Eagles hit back in the 67th minute.
With neither team able to find a winner, the match went to extra time.
Agathouli said they just wanted to make the most of the opportunity. He said with the work their strength and conditioning team had done, they were confident they could run out the match.
“I think we took it to them at stages in the game,” he said. “Especially in extra time.
“We pulled in everyone and spoke about getting to where we have in the cup and to just go for it.
“We’re proud to win the game, but we should have won in extra time.”
Agathouli was still confident in his side when the match went to penalties.
“I didn’t move and showed no emotions,” he said of the shoot out.
“We had belief that once it went to penalties we would win the game.
“With our goalkeeper Joshua Low, who signed in round four or five, he is a quality goalkeeper, who has played NPL [National Premier League] in Newcastle
“We knew we were going to win it.”
Agathouli said it was the biggest win for the club in recent years and its biggest ever in such a big tournament.
A win in the next round will result in the club getting through to the national stage for the first time.
The Glory will face NPL side Melbourne Knights in the next round.
Agathouli knows they will be underdogs in the next round.
“With the belief and the magic of the cup, anything can happen,” he said.
“We want a favourable draw, but with the last 10, whoever we draw we’ve got nothing to lose.
“We’re a small club from the west.”
