St George FC have given Sydney United 58 a giant scare before going down 5-3 after extra-time in their FFA Cup round of 32 clash on Wednesday night.
It was the first time the NPL 2 club had ever reached the national stage of the competition and they gave a brilliant account of themselves. Despite sitting 11th on the table in the second tier, St George were outstanding against the finals-bound NPL 1 side.
Saints, who won the NPL 2 competition last season, trailed 2-0 early in the second half only to launch a stunning fightback to level the scores.
St George then gave up what looked to be a 93rd minute winner, only to snatch a dramatic 96th minute equaliser to send the match to extra-time.
But Saints ran out of legs in the extra period, conceding two goals in the second half of extra-time to be eliminated from the competition.
A decent crowd turned out at the Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale for the clash despite the wet night in Sydney's south.
The visitors took the lead in the 18th minute. Matthew Sim threatened St George down the right before putting in a cross that Saints goalkeeper Anthony Costa could only parry into the path of Patrick Antelmi to tap home his seventh FFA Cup goal.
St George, one of the proudest and most historic sides in Australian football and winners of a national title in 1983 - stayed in the game and got to half-time only trailing by the solitary goal.
But Sydney United doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half. Sim looked menacing down the left this time before crossing, with Josh MacDonald able to flick his finish over Costa.
St George though refused to quit and it was game on when Musashi Kokubo headed home Juan Carlos Romero's free-kick from the right just past the hour mark.
All of a sudden Saints were level. Marcus Beattie was played through on goal before poking a cute finish past United goalkeeper Thomas Manos to make it 2-2 with 12 minutes to play.
Just when it looked like St George would force the game to extra-time, Yianni Perkatis headed in a United corner in stoppage time to break Saints hearts.
But again Saints were not done. Manos could only parry a Brad Bartels strike, with Kokubo popping up to prod the ball home to level the scores again in the 96th minute.
So with the sides playing out a gripping 3-3 draw, the match headed to extra-time.
Sydney United took the lead for the third time on the night early in the second period of extra-time, with Tariq Maia smashing home his finish to put the visitors 4-3 in front.
Michael Ruhs then added a fifth to confirm United's passage to the round of 16.
Elsewhere in the round of 32, A-League clubs Melbourne City and Central Coast advanced with 3-1 and 2-0 victories over Campbelltown City and Maitland respectively.
Marconi strolled to a 3-0 victory over South Hobart, while Hume City progressed to the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Cooma.
St George will turn their attention back to their NPL 2 campaign when they host Gladesville Hornsby on Saturday night.
Leader Scoreboard
Sydney United 58 5 (Patrick Antelmi ('18, Josh MacDonald '50, Yianni Perkatis '93, Tariq Maia '107, Michael Ruhs '111)
defeated
St George FC 3 (Musashi Kokobu '63, '96, Marcus Beattie '78)
After extra-time
At Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
