Footballers who rise to the cup final occasion etch their name into history.
Since the inaugural season of the FFA Cup in 2014, there have been a host of memorable, match-winning performances to savour.
Ahead of 2018’s big dance between Adelaide and Sydney FC – a rematch of the FFA Cup 2017 Final no less – we’re taking a look back at the players who wrote their names down in FFA Cup folklore.
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2014: Carrusca and Cirio see off Perth Glory
The inaugural FFA Cup 2014 Final between Adelaide United and Perth Glory proved to be an almighty tussle.
But it was the magical combination between Adelaide’s clinical Spaniard and their twinkle-toed Argentine that provided the crucial spark.
Both Sergio Cirio and Marcelo Carrusca were instrumental in creating a flow of gilt-edged opportunities for Josep Gombau’s side, with Awer Mabil spurning several chances to break the deadlock.
But after Glory were reduced to 10 men when Josh Risdon hauled the elusive Carrusca down, Adelaide made their advantage count.
The Reds’ two standout players combined for the first ever FFA Cup Final goal, with Carrusca sliding the ball through to Cirio, who skipped past Danny Vukovic and slotted away the winner.
2015: Barbarouses runs rampant for Victory
It is a rare feat for Besart Berisha to have the headlines stolen away from him on the big stage.
Therefore, it took a performance of some merit from Kosta Barbarouses when Victory defeated Perth Glory 2-0 in the FFA Cup 2015 Final.
Kevin Muscat’s side proved too hot for Glory to handle on the night, and that was in part thanks to the blistering pace and intent of their flying Kiwi.
Barbarouses was near unstoppable from the opening whistle and saw a cracking effort ruled out for offside early on.
He would then help carve the Glory defence open in a fluent attacking raid – topped off by Oliver Bonzanic's finish – before Berisha struck on the cusp of the break.
The Glory defence simply struggled to get near Barbarouses and Victory all night, even in the dying embers when he spurned the chance to get his name on the scoresheet when through one on one – instead squaring to the offside Daniel Georgievski.
2016: Cahill’s header hands City first silverware
Tim Cahill’s ability to produce big goals in big games has been one of the hallmarks of his brilliant career.
And that sense of the occasion was on full display for Melbourne City in the FFA Cup 2016 Final against Sydney FC.
A fiercely contested affair threatened to boil over on several occasions, but it was the ice-cool Cahill who fired in a vintage header to separate the two sides.
He powered Ivan Franjic’s textbook header back across goal to claim City’s first ever silverware, and his only top-flight domestic honour on Australian soil.
2017: Mierzejewski shines as Sydney FC edge Adelaide in extra time
In terms of the entertainment on show, few would disagree that the FFA Cup 2017 Final between Sydney and Adelaide was the best to date.
It was only fitting that the thrilling Final featured a man of the match display from Sydney FC’s former Polish star Adrian Mierzejewski, who cut a class above.
Mierzejewski pulled the strings all night for Sydney, who opened the scoring through Milos Ninkovic and drew a string of excellent stops from Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo throughout the contest.
The Final was sent into extra time by Nikola Mileusnic’s brilliant curler, but Mierzejewski’s deep set-piece found Bobo with ten minutes remaining, and the Brazilian striker duly converted.
That combination would be just a taste of the attacking thrills to come in the Harbour City that year.
