2014 FFA Cup final
| Company type | Soccer tournament |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports |
| Founded | 2014 |
Area served | Australia |
| Website | www |
The 2014 FFA Cup Final marked the first-ever championship match of the FFA Cup—currently referred to as the Australia Cup—Australia's foremost knockout tournament in soccer. Contested between two A-League sides, Adelaide United and Perth Glory, the game took place at Coopers Stadium on 16 December 2014. The scheduling was advanced to avoid overlapping with the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which Australia hosted. Adelaide United clinched the trophy with a 1–0 win, courtesy of a goal by Sergio Cirio after Joshua Risdon received a red card, reducing Perth Glory to ten players.
This final remains unique as the sole FFA Cup/Australia Cup decider held in December.
Venue
On 12 November 2014, Football Federation Australia declared that Coopers Stadium, home to Adelaide United, would host the final. This selection favored Adelaide’s venue over Perth Glory’s nib Stadium. Perth Glory CEO Jason Brewer voiced his dissatisfaction, emphasizing that the FFA’s choice deprived Western Australian supporters of a home final, which he regarded as unfair.
Established in 1960 and serving as Adelaide United’s base since 2003, Coopers Stadium accommodates 17,000 spectators—the smallest capacity among dedicated A-League stadiums. The venue underwent a $27 million upgrade in 2000 to facilitate matches during the Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics. It boasts a storied legacy, having hosted several significant events such as multiple National Soccer League Grand Finals (1986, 1995), NSL Cup finals (1986, 1989, 1992), the 1987 OFC Club Championship final, and the second leg of the 2008 AFC Champions League Final. Additionally, it has been the site for international tournaments including the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup, and FIFA World Cup qualification games. The highest recorded attendance was 18,430 during the 2000 Olympics when temporary seating expanded capacity to approximately 20,000.
Road to the final
| Adelaide United | Round | Perth Glory | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Opponent | Result | |
| Wellington Phoenix | 1–0 (H) | Round of 32 | Newcastle Jets | 2–0 (A) |
| Brisbane Roar | 2–0 (H) | Round of 16 | St Albans Saints | 4–1 (A) |
| Sydney FC (a.e.t.) | 3–1 (A) | Quarter-finals | Melbourne Victory | 4–2 (H) |
| Central Coast Mariners | 3–2 (H) | Semi-finals | Bentleigh Greens | 3–0 (A) |
| Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). | ||||
Both Adelaide United FC and Perth Glory FC were among 631 entrants in the inaugural edition of the FFA Cup, entering at the Round of 32 stage as representatives from the A-League.
Adelaide United kicked off their campaign with a home victory over Wellington Phoenix FC, secured by a goal from Sergio Cirio. They then defeated Brisbane Roar FC with early strikes from Cirio and Bruce Djite. In the quarter-finals, Adelaide overcame Sydney FC after extra time thanks to two goals by Djite. Their semi-final triumph came against Central Coast Mariners FC, winning 3–2 with a brace from Cirio and a goal by Awer Mabil, earning them a spot in this inaugural final.
Perth Glory began their run with an away win versus Newcastle Jets FC, powered by two goals from Irish striker Andy Keogh. They followed up with a commanding 4–1 away victory over St Albans Saints SC, featuring goals from Jamie Maclaren, Keogh, and a double from Nebojša Marinković. In the quarter-finals, Perth edged past Melbourne Victory FC 4–2 after extra time, with vital contributions from Keogh, Marinković, and Daniel De Silva. Their semi-final success was secured with a 3–0 win over Bentleigh Greens SC, highlighted by goals from Marinković and Chris Harold, propelling them into the final showdown.
Pre-match
Although the final took place at a relatively small stadium, the demand for tickets surpassed all predictions, with all seats sold out within just three days. Ticket prices were set between $30 for general entry and $40 for reserved spots.
The match official appointed was Chris Beath, who was assisted by George Lakrindis, Anton Shchetinin, among others. Beath brought experience from overseeing significant fixtures in the 2014 FFA Cup, A-League matches, AFC tournaments, and international friendlies.
Adelaide United faced the final without Osama Malik due to injury and Craig Goodwin who was contracted to Newcastle Jets. Perth Glory entered the game missing Youssouf Hersi, Diogo Ferreira, and Mitch Nichols because of injuries.
Summary
Early in the match, Adelaide’s Awer Mabil created several chances but was unable to finish them. Midfielder Marcelo Carrusca challenged Perth’s goalkeeper Danny Vukovic with a long-distance effort. Perth's appeals for a penalty were dismissed following a collision between goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and Richard Garcia. Before halftime, both Garcia and Joshua Risdon received yellow cards. Mabil also missed another scoring opportunity shortly before the break.
The second half saw Adelaide take control of the game. Risdon was shown a second yellow card and sent off after pulling on Carrusca’s shirt. The decisive moment arrived when Carrusca assisted Sergio Cirio, who scored from a narrow angle. In the closing stages, Vukovic made a crucial save to preserve the 1–0 lead. Adelaide retained possession to ensure their victory.
Details
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Statistics
| Match Statistics | Adelaide United | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Total shots attempted | 14 | 4 |
| Shots on goal | 4 | 0 |
| Possession of the ball | 66% | 34% |
| Corner kicks awarded | 6 | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 10 | 21 |
| Offside calls | 1 | 1 |
| Yellow cards received | 1 | 1 |
| Red cards issued | 0 | 1 |
Post match
Following his decisive goal, Sergio Cirio received the man of the match honor and was presented with the Mark Viduka Medal by a former Australian national team captain. Eugene Galekovic, captain of Adelaide United, acknowledged Perth Glory's strong performance despite their numerical disadvantage and confirmed that his squad earned the victory fairly.
The encounter was televised live across Australia on Fox Sports, attracting a peak audience of 104,000 viewers, marking the highest viewership for any cup fixture in that season’s competition.