Newcastle won their first Australian Cup title and brought Heidelberg United’s fairytale run to a cruel end with a 3-1 extra-time victory in the final.
An extraordinary strike from 19-year-old Oscar Fryer in the 96th minute gave the Jets silverware in their first final under former Socceroos captain Mark Mlligan.
With their first trophy since the 2007-08 championship, Newcastle claim a $50,000 purse and a place in next year’s Asian Champions League 2 competition.
Victorian champions Heidelberg, a semi-professional team made up of craftsmen, engineers, Uber drivers, carers and more, have already beaten Western Sydney, Wellington and Auckland FC without conceding a goal.
In front of 10,000 fans in Melbourne, Heidelberg took the lead in the eighth minute thanks to Ryan Lethlean.
The proud Greek-backed club had their chances of winning the match and becoming the first non-A-League club to win the Australian Cup.
But Newcastle, who only last year were supported by other A-League clubs, would not be denied – despite being without central defender Max Cooper through illness.
Heidelberg was denied a stone wall penalty in the third minute when Mohamed Aidara was clipped by Jets skipper Kosta Grozos.
But five minutes later, Asahi Yokokawa fired a free-kick past the back post where Bergers skipper Ben Collins headed the ball towards goal for his compatriot Lethlean to nod home.
That sent Lakeside Stadium’s yellow-and-black standing area into ecstasy, with flares blaring and coach John Anastasiadis celebrating with a double fist pump.
The Jets equalized in the 21st minute when Thomas Aquilina was released down the right and cut the ball back for Max Burgess – the Mark Viduka medal winner for man of the match – whose first-time shot beat Yaren Sozer.
Jets defender Aleksandar Susnjar fired a header into the side netting in first-half injury time.
In the 74th minute, Newcastle teenager Xavier Bertoncello fired a shot wide, then Heidelberg should have regained the lead when Yokokawa burst forward, but his needlessly chipped shot went wide.
Sozer denied Daniel Wilmering and Aquilina at the end of regulation time.
But when Fryer beat Fletcher Fulton, cut into the box and then struck with his left foot, the traveling Jets fans went into celebration mode.
Heidelberg called for a penalty when Susnjar brought down Akiel Raffie, but their appeals were rejected.
Jets skipper Grozos was sent off for a second yellow card in the 113th minute and Heidelberg substitute Johnny Apostolopoulos received a straight red card shortly after.
Then Nunes had Ben Gibson ice the play and send the Jets celebrating.
PAA
