Spring Hills bowed out of the Nike F.C Cup after losing in extra time to Preston Lions in the quarter-finals at Springside Recreational Reserve on Tuesday/
Spring Hills was hoping to make it through to the final four of the first time and coach Tom Markovski said he was proud of his team.
“I think the girls learned that on our day (that) we can beat anybody,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who you play, it’s eleven against eleven and I couldn’t be more proud. I think the girls learned that it just shows that we can match it with the NPL and hopefully if we keep going the way we’re going, we could be there next year. I’m super proud of the girls and the way they played. We pushed them to 120 minutes.”
The Lions scored inside the first minute when Meba Tanaka found the left corner, beating Hills goalkeeper Jenna Ibrahim.
However, Spring Hills settled into a rhythm and netted three goals of their own before 20 minutes to lead 3-1 at the break.
Kate Spiteri produced a stunning header in the eighth minute and then capitalised in the box from a strong cross just minutes later to have the big Caroline Springs crowd in full voice. An own goal in the 20th minute gave Spring Hills a 3-1 lead and the visitors were in shock.
The Lions then scored twice in the second half to even it up after 90 minutes.
In extra time, what looked like an attempted cross by Jamilla Rankin somehow found the net and the Lions went in front in the 104th minute.
Rasamee Phonsongkham controlled the ball beautifully before putting the ball away in the left-hand corner in the 110th minute and Preston was all but into the semi-final.
However, less than two minutes later Erii Yamashita almost found a goal from a set-piece but the loose ball was seized upon by Yukina Tamamura and all of sudden it was game on, but the Lions held on.
Justin Flynn
