The 2021 FFA Cup Final was the final match of the 2021 FFA Cup, Australia's main soccer cup competition. It was contested between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners on 5 February 2022 at the AAMI Park in Melbourne.
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| Event | 2021 FFA Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 5 February 2022 | ||||||
| Venue | AAMI Park, Melbourne | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Jake Brimmer and Kye Rowles | ||||||
| Referee | Shaun Evans | ||||||
| Attendance | 15,343[1] | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny 27 °C (81 °F)[2] | ||||||
The 2021 final was the first since the 2019 FFA Cup Final, after the 2020 FFA Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Following the quarter-final win for Melbourne Victory against Adelaide United, the final would not feature Adelaide for the first time since 2016.[3]
This was Mariners' first FFA Cup final, and their first final in any competition since their win in the 2013 A-League Grand Final.[4] This was Victory's second FFA Cup final and the first since 2015, in which they were victorious.
The 2021 FFA Cup Final was the last final played under the FFA Cup name; from 2022, the competition will be known as the Australia Cup.[5]
Route to the final
edit| Melbourne Victory | Round | Central Coast Mariners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Opponent | Result | |
| Perth Glory | 1–1 (A) (4–3 p) |
A-League playoff round | ||
| Adelaide City | 1–0 (A) | Round of 32 | Blacktown City | 1–0 (A) |
| Gold Coast Knights | 2–1 (a.e.t.) (A) | Round of 16 | Wollongong Wolves | 2–1 (A) |
| Adelaide United | 2–1 (A) | Quarter-finals | APIA Leichhardt | 6–0 (A) |
| Wellington Phoenix | 4–1 (H) | Semi-finals | Sydney FC | 1–0 (A) |
| Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). | ||||
Melbourne Victory, as an A-League team finishing in the bottom four in the 2020–21 A-League, entered into an A-League playoff round..
Meanwhile, Central Coast Mariners entered in the round of 32. Their first match was away to National Premier Leagues NSW side Blacktown City in Mudgee. The Mariners won 1–0 through a second-half goal to Béni Nkololo.[6] In the next round they drew another NPL NSW side, Wollongong Wolves. They went behind early after goalkeeper Mark Birighitti conceded a penalty and was sent off for violent conduct, however, recovered to win 2–1 through second-half goals to Moresche and debutant Harry McCarthy.[7] In the quarter-finals, the Mariners drew a third NPL NSW side, APIA Leichhardt, who upset A-League Men side Western Sydney Wanderers in the previous round. The Mariners won 6–0 at Leichhardt Stadium to advance to the semifinals.[8] In the semifinals, the Mariners defeated Sydney FC 1–0 after Marco Ureña scored a second-half penalty.[9]
Pre-match
editVenue selection
editThe Final was originally intended to be at a neutral venue.[10] However, on 27 January 2022, it was confirmed that the winner of the semi-final match between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory would host the final, subject to a random draw and the eventual participants.[11] After winning the semi-final, Melbourne Victory was confirmed as the host.
Match
editDetails
edit| Melbourne Victory | 2–1 | Central Coast Mariners |
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Report | Bozanic  90+7' |
        Melbourne Victory
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 Central Coast Mariners
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Mark Viduka Medal:
Assistant referees:
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Match rules:[12]
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Statistics
edit
| Statistics | Melbourne Victory | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
| Total shots | 18 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 2 |
| Ball possession | 52% | 48% |
| Corner kicks | 11 | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 13 | 17 |
| Offsides | 1 | 2 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 1 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
References
edit- ^ a b Lynch, Michael (5 February 2022). "Davidson blasts Victory to FFA Cup glory". The Age. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Melbourne 24 hour Observations". www.weatherzone.com.au. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
- ^ McKay, Ben (5 January 2022). "Victory knock Adelaide out of FFA Cup". The West Australian. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "History made as Mariners progress to FFA Cup Final". Central Coast Mariners FC. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "'Australia Cup' name to return to Australia's largest national knockout football competition". FFA Cup. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Mariners progress with a gritty win in FFA Cup match". Coast Community News. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Mariners beat Wolves to make it to FFA quarter finals". Coast Community News. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Mariners hit APIA Leichhardt for six". Central Coast Mariners. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners through to first FFA Cup final after controversial defeat of Sydney FC". ABC News. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Stand-alone Final and AFC Champions League prize to headline rebooted FFA Cup in 2021". Football Australia.
- ^ Manuca, David (27 January 2022). "Live draw to decide FFA Cup Final 2021 host city". TheFFACup.com.au. Football Australia.
- ^ "FFA Cup How Draw Works". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.