South Springvale coach Bill Lambropoulos was lost for words after his sides dramatic FFA Cup penalty shootout triumph, admitting he was worried his side would succumb to the intense South Cardiff’s pressure.
Close to 1500 fans packed into a wet and windy Kingston Heath to bear witness to a classic underdog story unfold, as the little team that could progressed to the top 16 clubs in the country.
“We were falling over like rabbits in the end,” Lambropoulos said.
“We were so tired, boys were cramping up everywhere and I thought we were going to concede. What courage, I take my hat off to them.”
Lambropoulos has warned that despite the underdog tag, his side will face their upcoming challenges head-on as they look to take home the Dockerty Cup and make an even bigger impact in the FFA Cup.
“FFA and Westfield, what they’ve done for us is unbelievable – they’ve opened the doors for grassroots clubs,” the head coach said.
“We’re not going to get embarrassed – we’re going to have a go and whatever happens, happens.
“The pressure is not on us, we’ve got the Dockerty Cup final which is prestigious enough.”
Heading into the last 16 of the FFA Cup, it is becoming increasingly likely that the Victorian-based club will possibly come up against a powerhouse A-League side and coach Lambropoulos says an A-League matchup would be a “dream” for his players.
“I think the draw has been in favour of us, I think if they continue like that then why not? I don’t think any of these boys wouldn’t want to play against a Western Sydney Wanderers or Brisbane Roar or Melbourne Victory – I think it would be their dream,” he said.
“As a coach I’d probably want a smaller team to come to us but look, it doesn’t matter, they’re going to enjoy it, they’re going to live it, they’re going to have the memories.”
South Springvale goalkeeper Rani Dowisha etched his name into Aris folklore with his penalty-shootout performance proving the difference in the end but the 22-year-old insists it was more of a collective effort that got South Springvale over the line.
“Feels good to be honest, [I’m] just rapt for the team,” Dowisha said.
“That one save doesn’t add up to the feeling that everyone else feels for the club – it was a team effort so the boys are rapt.”
The dream continues for the club playing in the third-tier of Victorian football and ‘keeper Dowisha will be hoping his side can cause another upset in the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup campaign.
“No one’s heard of the club before, we put the club on the map so it’s good for everyone at the club, they put in so much time and effort,” said Dowisha.
“It’s just great to see everyone so happy and the run continues – hopefully maybe we can go one more and cause another upset but we’ll see how we go.
“Whoever we get, I’m sure we’ll put up a fight.”