In the second 2025 Hahn Australia Cup Quarter Final, Avondale cruised to a clinical 6-2 victory over Brisbane City on Wednesday to make the Semi Finals for the first time.
Having only reached the Quarter Final stage once in their history, Avondale will go the furthest they have ever in the Cup this year, following Wednesday's compelling win.
Avondale FC 6 - 2 Brisbane City FC
The game had a blistering first 10 minutes with Avondale looking positive early on.
Within the first couple of minutes, Kristian Trajceski rifled a long-range effort just wide. Moments later, the side opened the scoring through Manyluak Aguek. The striker latched onto an errant back pass, going around goalkeeper Joshua Langdon before rolling the ball in from a narrow angle.
City soon responded through Corey Brown, whose free-kick on the right forced Thomas Manos into a sharp save for Avondale.
The hosts doubled their lead 16 minutes in through Aguek, who skillfully steered home Stefan Valentini’s right-sided cross.
Avondale continued to put Brisbane City under pressure as Langdon produced several important saves over the next few minutes. Valentini proved a serious handful for the visitors with his trickery and directness on the right wing for Avondale.
Despite the home side’s free-flowing attack, City had an excellent double chance to halve the deficit heading into halftime. Malakai Love-Semira drew a good stop from Manos on the left of the area before blazing the second attempt over.
Seven minutes into the second half, Avondale’s Matthew Reid could have made it three for the side, nodding wide from a corner.
In the 55th minute, the hosts found their third goal through Aguek. The striker finished off a smart set piece with a low-skimming finish past Langdon to secure his hat-trick.
Five minutes later, the side were given the opportunity for a fourth goal from the penalty spot. Luca Tevere stepped up and buried the ball into the bottom left corner.
City wrestled back some control after this latest concession and generated a greater threat up the field. In the 67th minute, Jakob Mudnic spun nicely outside the box, lashing a strike that Manos parried away.
The away side pulled a goal back from the resulting corner through Mirko Crociati, who side-footed a volley into the goal at the near post.
Despite the visitors' momentum-building period in the match, Avondale re-extended their lead 77 minutes in on the counter. Valentini received the ball on the left of the box and slotted it into the far corner.
The goals continued to flow, and four minutes later, City scored again. Masashi Yokoyama scored with a well-struck close-range volley that picked out the bottom right corner.
Avondale responded once more in the final minute of regular time as Cian Cuba executed a deft lob from inside the box to round out a special night for the home side.
