Goals: 1:0 Alex Castro (8.); 1:1 Ian Graham (22.); 1:2 Matthew Grbesa (28.); 2:2 Stephen Domenici (37.); 3:2 Alex Oloriegbe (40.); 3:3 Danai Gapare (63.); 3:4 Adam Spaleta (66.); 4:4 Alex Oloriegbe (87.); 4:5 Aiden Brunskill (108.)

Canberra FC claimed the loop Federation Cup for the fourth season in a row, and the sixth time in seven seasons, with an epic 5-4 win over Cooma Tigers after extra time at Hawker Football Centre. Central defender Aidan Brunskill emerged as the hero with the match-winner in the second period of the extra half-hour to hand Canberra FC the triumph.

Cooma fired the first salvo when Stephen Domenici broke into the penalty area on the left flank only to be denied by the feet of Ben Klug. From the resultant rebound Canberra FC broke swiftly and Adam Spaleta glided past a couple of challenges in midfield to create an opening but Francis Bangweni was equal to the task diving low to his left to produce a great save. Incredibly the Tigers proceeded to go straight up the other end and take an early lead.

Some touchline trickery from Alex Oloriegbe won a corner and, when Iain Elliott floated over a delightful cross, Alex Castro rose highest and, unmarked, sent a firm header down onto the synthetic turf where it bounced high and over the despairing Klug and into the back of the net.

The cup holders responded with vigour and Ian Graham slipped in Lukas Cole who forced a superb one-handed save from Bangweni at his near post, the Tigers shot-stopper beating the ball away for a corner. Michael Spaleta sent the kick into a crowded area where Ryan Keir arrived unmarked and would surely have equalised had he made better contact.

In what was turning into an astonishingly open game the Tigers had the chance to extend their lead when Domenici was once more denied by the legs of Klug before Canberra FC were gift-wrapped the equaliser. Bangweni was caught dawdling in possession by Michael Spaleta in the 22nd minute and the Canberra FC stalwart seemed certain to score. However the Tigers ‘keeper recovered to make a spectacular save only for the rebound to fall kindly for Victor Yanes who teed up Ian Graham to rifle the ball home.

Chasing their seventeenth Federation Cup Canberra FC took the lead in the 28th minute from an unlikely source. Matt Grbesa, starting the game from the bench and introduced only seconds earlier in a tactical switch for Lukas Cole, leapt at the back post to send a downward header at goal that squeezed in at the near post for a goal with his first touch of the ball.

Edan Wheeldon and Ryan Keir both missed chances to extend Canberra FC’s lead with Wheeldon heading wastefully over from inside the six yard box and Keir seeing his header cleared off the line. And Cooma made the 2011 treble winners pay with a double whammy close to the half-time break. Castro was at the forefront of the game leveling second goal, playing a precise pass into Domenici who skipped round a challenge and slid the ball past the advancing Klug in the 37th minute.

Three minutes later the Tigers were back in front. Oloriegbe has been a shining light for Cooma in this competition and netted his eleventh goal in five matches with a stunning solo effort. The in-form hit-man picked up the ball outside the area and was given the space to turn and put the ball onto his favoured left foot from where he hammered a fierce drive past Klug to give the Tigers the initiative at the break.

Looking to find a way back into the match again Canberra FC Head Coach Robbie Graham introduced Danai Gapare in a bid to add more pace to his attack at the start of the second half withdrawing Daniel Bennett. In much the same vein as the opening half though chances were spurned on a semi-regular basis.

Gapare was denied a shot on goal by a brilliant last ditch challenge and Bangweni stood form when Graham seemed certain to level after finding room in the box before the Deakin-based club found the equaliser as Gapare was freed in the box to confidently side-foot past Bangweni. Within three minutes they were ahead with the goal of the game. Seeing his opportunity thirty metres out Adam Spaleta sized up the chance and sent a thunderbolt fizzing into the top corner of the Tigers net for a breathtaking goal that sent the Canberra FC support into frenzy.

The Tigers responded with gusto and Gustavo Roldan thought he had made it 4-4 with a chip that was heading in until Keir cleared off the line. Shortly afterwards Oloriegbe took on his man and sent a cross-shot flashing across the face of the Canberra FC net and inches past the far post. The Tigers leading scorer turned provider for Domenici five minutes later but his delicate chip was headed clear as Cooma ramped up the pressure.

Domenici had a glorious chance to restore parity nine minutes from time bewitching defenders with his sleight of foot, side-stepping his way past challenges in the penalty area, but refusing the chance to shoot, instead preferring to take on another man when surely pulling the trigger was the better option. It didn’t prove costly though as the Tigers got back to 4-4 in the 87th minute.

A poor back pass from Wheeldon was gleefully intercepted by Oloriegbe who rounded Klug and slotted into the empty net. Seconds later it appeared as of the striker had won it for his team heading in a deep cross only to see his celebrations curtailed by an offside flag sending the match into extra time.

Canberra FC had the first chance of the extra half-hour when Graham was sent in on goal after a probing run forward from Aaron Evans only to shoot straight at Bangweni. Michael Spaleta then passed up a gilt-edged chance firing wide from a perfect position before Keir hit a tame effort from close range when he should really have scored. For Cooma, Castro headed over when well-placed as the game raced towards its denouement.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes into the second period of extra time and the goal scorer could hardly have been more unlikely. Brunskill was the man, advancing from his defensive role to arrive in the Tigers penalty area and coolly fire into the net with the panache of a centre-forward to ultimately allow Canberra to hang onto the trophy.

MATCH STATISTICS

Canberra FC: 18. Ben Klug (gk), 3. Aaron Evans, 5. Edan Wheeldon (8. Anthony Bekavac 91’), 6. Ryan Keir, 9. Michael Spaleta, 12. Ian Graham, 13. Daniel Bennett (10. Danai Gapare 46’), 14. Lukas Cole (16. Matt Grbesa 27’), 17. Aidan Brunskill, 19. Adam Spaleta, 99. Victor Yanes

Substitutes not used: 1. Jakob Cole (gk), 11. Ivan Pavlak

Cooma Tigers: 1. Francis Bangweni (gk), 2. Phil Yarnold, 3. Jordano San Martin (13. Glen Cable 111’), 4. Tony Aleksovski, 5. JP D’Ambrosio, 6. Dom Colucciello, 7. Gustavo Roldan (14. Adrien Labutte 73’), 8. Iain Elliott, 9. Alex Castro, 10. Alex Oloriegbe, 11. Stephen Domenici

Substitutes not used: 15. James Bergin, 17. Callum Patterson, 20. Nick Nelson (gk)

DISCIPLINE: YELLOW CARDS: 10. Danai Gapare, 12. Ian Graham, 16. Matt Grbesa (all Canberra FC), 11. Stephen Domenici, 14. Adrien Labutte (both Cooma Tigers)

Match Officials: Owen Goldrick (referee), Alex McConachie & Chris Bulloch, Daniel Rajic (4th Official)