Flashback: APIA Leichhardt knock out A-League Men Champions

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On the 21st of August, 2018, APIA Leichhardt shocked the nation by producing a Cupset against Melbourne Victory, the reigning A-League Men Champions.

After both sides gained 1-0 wins in the Round of 32 - APIA against Port Melbourne and Victory against Perth Glory, they were set to meet for a place in the Quarter Finals.

With Victory fresh off their Championship win, they looked set to produce a strong run in the Cup, but were stopped in their tracks by a strong NPL Men’s NSW side in the Round of 16.

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APIA Leichhardt’s Road to the Round of 32

APIA Leichhardt began their qualifying campaign in Preliminary Round Four with a comprehensive thrashing of Fraser Park by the score of 9-1, before beating Wollongong Olympic FC 4-0 to move them closer to the Round of 32.

They endured the closest game of their qualifying in Preliminary Round Six, prevailing 3-2 over St George FC, and then secured their place in the tournament with a 3-0 win over Sydney Olympic FC.

APIA was at the end of a strong 2018 NPL NSW Men’s season where they finished as runners-up in both the Premiership and Championship, and were looking for their first Cupset in their second appearance in the Australia Cup.

A look back at APIA Leichhardt v Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory ready to build on A-League Men Championship

After finishing fourth in the A-League Men season, Melbourne Victory set the finals alight, dramatically prevailing over bitter rivals Adelaide United and Sydney FC in the elimination final and semi-finals respectively to earn themselves a spot in the grand final.

Victory prevailed in a dramatic match that included VAR drama, Lawrence Thomas’ bandaged head and a red card, as a ninth-minute Kosta Barbarouses goal gave them their fourth A-League Men Championship.

In the following offseason, Melbourne Victory lost star striker and Australia Cup top-scorer Besart Berisha, but responded with some statement signings - namely Ola Toivonen and Keisuke Honda.

While neither played in the Round of 16 clash, Melbourne Victory were coming into this game as major favourites, looking to comfortably dispatch APIA and move into the Quarter-finals for the third time in their history.

Kosta Barbarouses of the victory is challenged by Paul Galami of APIA Leichhardt Tigers during the Australia Cup round of 16 match between APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC and Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval on August 21, 2018 — APIA Leichhardt stunned the 2017/18 A-League Men Champions in front of 2,467 fans at Leichhardt Oval.

Sekiya stuns Victory

However, in the eighth minute, APIA took a shock lead at Leichhardt Oval, as Tasuku Sekiya fired the NPL NSW side ahead with a clinical finish into the far corner from the right-hand side.

Just two minutes into the second half, Sekiya scored a second, cutting inside Terry Antonis before unleashing a blistering strike into the top-left corner from inside the box.

A stunning Cupset was on the cards, with APIA now leading the reigning A-League Men Champions by two goals.

Tasuka Sekiya of APIA Leichhardt Tigers celebrates scoring his second goal during the Australia Cup round of 16 match between APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC and Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval on August 21, 2018 — Tasuku Sekiya scored a brace to put APIA Leichhardt up by two and the Cupset was on.

Athiu provides reply

But in the 60th minute, a Kosta Barbarouses cut-back was met by Kenny Athiu, who swept the ball into the back of the net to halve APIA’s lead.

Six minutes later, Victory equalised, as a cross from Corey Brown was headed onto the post by Jai Ingham.

From point-blank range, Athiu converted, and it was 2-2 with all to play for.

Kenny Athiu of the victory is tackled by Josh Symons of APIA Leichhardt Tigers during the FFA Cup round of 16 match between APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC and Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval on August 21, 2018 — One year earlier, Kenny Athiu was the hero for Heidelberg United as they stunned Perth Glory in the Round 32.

Millgate wins it for APIA

In the 80th minute, APIA were given a strong chance to earn their Cupset once and for all, with a set-piece given in a dangerous crossing position on the left.

A perfect ball in from Franco Parisi was met by the powerful head of Nathan Millgate at the back post, and the fullback found the top corner, sending Leichhardt Oval into raptures.

With their fans cheering wildly, APIA held on in a tense final period of the game, and secured a famous Cupset over the reigning A-League Men Champions.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers players celebrate victory in the Australia Cup round of 16 match between APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC and Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval on August 21, 2018 — Round of 16 bound courtesy of an 80th minute header from Nathan Millgate (#2 pictured right)

What happened after

APIA Leichhardt went down to eventual Winners Adelaide United in the Quarter-Finals, with late goals from Craig Goodwin and Mirko Boland blocking an unprecedented double Cupset.

APIA would later advance to the Quarter Finals again in 2021 with another Round of 16 Cupset, as they beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1, before seeing their journey come to an end with a loss to the Central Coast Mariners.

Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, won the Australia Cup 2021, and in the A-League Men’s season following their loss to APIA, came third on the ladder, before losing to Sydney FC in the Semi Finals.