Power's unlikely hero chasing more cup success against Sydney United

Peninsula Power’s unlikely hero, Alex Smith says his side are raring to go ahead of what’s being dubbed the biggest in the club’s history against Sydney United in the Australia Cup Quarter Finals at AJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon.

MATCH PREVIEW: Peninsula Power v Sydney United 58
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The 37-year-old former Wellington Phoenix midfielder had made just two appearances off the bench all season after having been retired for two years before scoring the winner in Power’s dramatic come-from-behind win against Green Gully in the last 16.

Smith primarily works as Power’s women’s Head Coach and Female Director of Football, sealing promotion to the NPL in an undefeated season that’s seen his side since claim the Premiership the day prior to scoring the winner for the men’s side in the Round of 16.

After previously working as an Assistant Coach with both Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar’s A-League Women’s sides Smith took over what was at the time a Power side without a win midway through the 2021 season.


Despite not having played for two years, Smith holds a strong playing reputation in the Sunshine State, having previously starred for FNQ Heat and Olympic, representing both sides in the Australia Cup Final Rounds before being crowned as the NPL Queensland’s Player of the Season in 2019 with the latter and was such registered for Power’s men’s side on a ‘just in case’ basis.

That agreement combined with Smith’s coaching commitments saw him appear just twice off the bench for Power totalling in 50 minutes of football before being named on the substitutes bench for the Round of 16 clash against Green Gully.

Smith, who played 41 A-League games for Wellington Phoenix between 2011 and 2013 said he thought his goalscoring days were well behind him prior to a surreal experience in the Round of 16.

“Everybody when they retire misses different things, some people miss the change room, some people miss the running the hard work, but for me it was always that two seconds when you hit the ball and you know it’s going in before anybody else does,” Smith said.


“That feeling of running off celebrating and you hear the crowd, for me that’s probably what I miss the most and you can’t really find that anywhere else in life, that quick feeling of elation and ecstasy.

“I’m really, really thankful that I was able to experience that once again in front of a big crowd in a big game for the club that I’m also working for,” Smith said.

Smith added everyone at Power is buzzing as they aim to create more magic of the cup in what shapes as the biggest match in the club’s history.

“This is huge for us, we’re club that have come up from a couple of levels down in the Football Queensland Pyramid,” Smith said.


“To be in the last eight of the whole country, that’s a special achievement in itself, to draw Sydney United another NPL team, we certainly fancy ourselves as a good chance to make the Semi Final.

“It’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history, it’s something really special to be a part of and something I didn’t think I’d be part of as player again.

“The boys have been great with me and I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it, it’s a great side and there’s a couple of young players of really good quality coming through,” Smith said.

You can catch all the action from Sunday’s Quarter Final between Peninsula Power and Sydney United live on 10 Play.

Peninsula Power v Sydney United 58
Date:
Sunday, 28 August 2022
Time: 3:00pm
Venue: AJ Kelly Park
Tickets: CLICK HERE

Australia Cup Quarter Final Fixtures