2021 FFA Cup final

{{Infobox football match

| title = 2021 FFA Cup Final

| image = 2021 FFA Cup Final.jpg

| caption =

| event = 2021 FFA Cup

| team1 = Melbourne Victory

| team1score = 2

| team2 = Central Coast Mariners

| team2score = 1

| date = 5 February 2022

| stadium = AAMI Park

| city = Melbourne

| man_of_the_match1a = Jake Brimmer and Kye Rowles

| referee = Shaun Evans

| attendance = 15,343{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Michael |title=Davidson blasts Victory to FFA Cup glory |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/victory-shoot-for-silverware-in-ffa-cup-final-20220205-p59u12.html |work=The Age|date=5 February 2022 |access-date=5 February 2022}}

| weather = Sunny
{{convert|27|°C|°F}}{{Cite web|title=Melbourne 24 hour Observations|url=https://www.weatherzone.com.au/station/SITE/86338/observations/2022-02-05|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.weatherzone.com.au|language=en}}

| previous = 2019
← {{grey|2020}}

| next = 2022

}}

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.

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.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/victory-knock-adelaide-out-of-ffa-cup-c-5198434|title=Victory knock Adelaide out of FFA Cup|publisher=The West Australian|first=Ben|last=McKay|date=5 January 2022|accessdate=19 January 2022}}

This was Mariners' first FFA Cup final, and their first final in any competition since their win in the 2013 A-League Grand Final.{{cite news|url=https://ccmariners.com.au/news/history-made-as-mariners-progress-to-ffa-cup-final|title=History made as Mariners progress to FFA Cup Final|date=19 January 2022|accessdate=20 January 2022|publisher=Central Coast Mariners FC}} 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.{{cite web |title='Australia Cup' name to return to Australia's largest national knockout football competition |url=https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/australia-cup-name-return-australias-largest-national-knockout-football-competition |website=FFA Cup |date=5 February 2022 |access-date=6 February 2022}}

Route to the final

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; floatleft;"
colspan=2\|Melbourne Victory !Round !colspan=2\|Central Coast Mariners
bgcolor=#c1e0ff \|Opponent \|Result \| \|Opponent \|Result
align=left\|Perth Glory \|1–1 (A) {{pso\|4–3}} \|bgcolor=#c1e0ff\|A-League playoff round ! scope="row" rowspan="1" colspan="2"\|
align=left\|Adelaide City \|1–0 (A) \|bgcolor=#c1e0ff\|Round of 32 \|align=left\|Blacktown City \|1–0 (A)
align=left\|Gold Coast Knights \|2–1 {{aet}} (A) \|bgcolor=#c1e0ff\|Round of 16 \|align=left\|Wollongong Wolves \|2–1 (A)
align=left\|Adelaide United \|2–1 (A) \|bgcolor=#c1e0ff\|Quarter-finals \|align=left\|APIA Leichhardt \|6–0 (A)
align=left\|Wellington Phoenix \|4–1 (H) \|bgcolor=#c1e0ff\|Semi-finals \|align=left\|Sydney FC \|1–0 (A)
colspan=5 style="background-color:white;"\|Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; floatleft;"

colspan=2|Melbourne Victory

!Round

!colspan=2|Central Coast Mariners

bgcolor=#c1e0ff

|Opponent

|Result

|Opponent

|Result

align=left|Perth Glory

|1–1 (A)
{{pso|4–3}}

|bgcolor=#c1e0ff|A-League playoff round

! scope="row" rowspan="1" colspan="2"|

align=left|Adelaide City

|1–0 (A)

|bgcolor=#c1e0ff|Round of 32

|align=left|Blacktown City

|1–0 (A)

align=left|Gold Coast Knights

|2–1 {{aet}} (A)

|bgcolor=#c1e0ff|Round of 16

|align=left|Wollongong Wolves

|2–1 (A)

align=left|Adelaide United

|2–1 (A)

|bgcolor=#c1e0ff|Quarter-finals

|align=left|APIA Leichhardt

|6–0 (A)

align=left|Wellington Phoenix

|4–1 (H)

|bgcolor=#c1e0ff|Semi-finals

|align=left|Sydney FC

|1–0 (A)

colspan=5 style="background-color:white;"|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.{{cite news|url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2021/11/mariners-progress-with-a-gritty-win-in-ffa-cup-match/|title=Mariners progress with a gritty win in FFA Cup match|publisher=Coast Community News|date=15 November 2021|accessdate=19 January 2021}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2021/12/mariners-beat-wolves-to-make-it-to-ffa-quarter-finals/|title=Mariners beat Wolves to make it to FFA quarter finals|publisher=Coast Community News|date=3 December 2021|accessdate=6 December 2021}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://ccmariners.com.au/news/mariners-hit-apia-leichhardt-for-six|title=Mariners hit APIA Leichhardt for six|publisher=Central Coast Mariners|access-date=22 December 2021|date=22 December 2021}} In the semifinals, the Mariners defeated Sydney FC 1–0 after Marco Ureña scored a second-half penalty.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-19/central-coast-mariners-ffa-cup-final-defeat-sydney-fc/100765694|publisher=ABC News|date=19 January 2021|accessdate=19 January 2021|title=Central Coast Mariners through to first FFA Cup final after controversial defeat of Sydney FC}}

Pre-match

=Venue selection=

The Final was originally intended to be at a neutral venue.{{cite news|url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/stand-alone-final-and-afc-champions-league-prize-headline-rebooted-ffa-cup-2021|title=Stand-alone Final and AFC Champions League prize to headline rebooted FFA Cup in 2021|publisher=Football Australia}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/live-draw-decide-ffa-cup-final-2021-host-city|publisher=Football Australia|website=TheFFACup.com.au|date=27 January 2022|first=David|last=Manuca|title=Live draw to decide FFA Cup Final 2021 host city}} After winning the semi-final, Melbourne Victory was confirmed as the host.

Match

=Details=

{{footballbox

|date = 5 February 2022

|time = 20:00 AEDT

|team1 = Melbourne Victory (1)

|score = 2–1

|report = https://keepup.com.au/fixtures/melbourne-victory-fc-v-central-coast-mariners-fc-ffa-cup-05-02-2022/2slltx5z3efxza6juvfq5a8es

|team2 = Central Coast Mariners (1)

|goals1 =

Davidson {{goal|70}}
Ikonomidis {{goal|90+5}}

|goals2 = Bozanic {{goal|90+7}}

|stadium = AAMI Park, Melbourne

|attendance = 15,343{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Michael |title=Davidson blasts Victory to FFA Cup glory |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/victory-shoot-for-silverware-in-ffa-cup-final-20220205-p59u12.html |work=The Age|date=5 February 2022 |access-date=5 February 2022}}

|referee = Shaun Evans

}}

width=92%

{{Football kit

|pattern_la = _Melbourne_Victory_FFA_Cup_2021

|pattern_b = _Melbourne_Victory_FFA_Cup_2021

|pattern_ra = _Melbourne_Victory_FFA_Cup_2021

|pattern_sh =

|pattern_so =

|leftarm = 04144b

|body = 04144b

|rightarm = 04144b

|shorts = FFFFFF

|socks = 04144b

|title = Melbourne Victory

}}

|{{Football kit

| pattern_la = b8bac1

| pattern_b = _Central_Coast_Mariners_FFA_Cup_2021

| pattern_ra = b8bac1

| pattern_sh =

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = b8bac1

| body = FFFFFF

| rightarm = b8bac1

| shorts = 101a3f

| socks = FFFFFF

|title = Central Coast Mariners

}}

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="width:100%"
style="vertical-align:top; width:40%"\| {\| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
GK	20	{{fbaicon\|CRO}} Ivan Kelava
RB	2	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jason Geria
CB	17	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Brendan Hamill
CB	5	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Matthew Spiranovic
LB	3	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jason Davidson
DM	6	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Leigh Broxham
DM	8	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Joshua Brillante (c)
AM	22	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jake Brimmer		{{suboff\|90+2}}
LW	11	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Ben Folami	{{yel\|72}}	{{suboff\|74}}
CF	18	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Nicholas D'Agostino		{{suboff\|75}}
RW	23	{{fbaicon\|NZL}} Marco Rojas		{{suboff\|82}}
colspan=3\|Substitutes:
GK	1	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Matt Acton
DF	15	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Aaron Anderson
DF	16	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Stefan Nigro
MF	7	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Chris Ikonomidis		{{subon\|74}}
MF	13	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Birkan Kirdar		{{subon\|90+2}}
FW	9	{{fbaicon\|ITA}} Francesco Margiotta		{{subon\|75}}
FW	24	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Nishan Velupillay		{{subon\|82}}
colspan=3\|Manager:
colspan=4\|{{flagicon\|AUS}} Tony Popovic

|valign="top"|

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

width=25\|	width=25\|
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%; margin:auto"
GK	1	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Mark Birighitti
RB	3	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Lewis Miller
CB	23	{{fbaicon\|FIJ}} Dan Hall
CB	14	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Kye Rowles
LB	18	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jacob Farrell
RM	4	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Josh Nisbet		{{suboff\|80}}
CM	34	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Harrison Steele	{{yel\|69}}	{{suboff\|73}}
CM	8	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Oliver Bozanic (c)
LM	27	{{fbaicon\|GER}} Nicolai Müller		{{suboff\|56}}
CF	12	{{fbaicon\|CRC}} Marco Ureña
CF	10	{{fbaicon\|BRA}} Moresche		{{suboff\|73}}
colspan=3\|Substitutes:
GK	30	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Patrick Beach
DF	15	{{fbaicon\|NZL}} Storm Roux
DF	21	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Ruon Tongyik
MF	7	{{fbaicon\|JPN}} Cy Goddard		{{subon\|73}}
MF	11	{{fbaicon\|FRA}} Béni Nkololo		{{subon\|56}}
MF	16	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Max Balard		{{subon\|73}}
MF	36	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Garang Kuol		{{subon\|80}}
colspan=4\|Manager:
colspan=4\|{{flagicon\|SCO}} Nick Montgomery

style="width:100%;font-size:90%"

Mark Viduka Medal:

Jake Brimmer (Melbourne Victory)
Kye Rowles (Central Coast Mariners)

Assistant referees:

Kearney Robinson

David Walsh

Fourth official:

Andrew Lindsay

Additional assistant referees:

Jonathan Barreiro

Kurt Ams

|style="width:60%; vertical-align:top"|

Match rules:{{cite web|title=FFA Cup How Draw Works|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/How-the-FFA-Cup-draw-works/86839|publisher=Football Australia|accessdate=24 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327115746/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/How-the-FFA-Cup-draw-works/86839|archive-date=27 March 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

90 minutes.
30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
Seven named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.

=Statistics=

File:FFA Cup 2021 celebrations.jpg players lifting the trophy]]

width=100 \| Statistics !width=70 \| Melbourne Victory !width=70 \| Central Coast Mariners
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Goals scored	2	1
Total shots	18	7
Shots on target	4	2
{{nowrap\|Ball possession}}	52%	48%
Corner kicks	11	2
{{nowrap\|Fouls committed}}	13	17
Offsides	1	2
Yellow cards	1	1
Red cards	0	0

References

External links

[https://www.theffacup.com.au/ Official website]

Final

Category:Central Coast Mariners FC matches

Category:Melbourne Victory FC matches

Category:Australia Cup finals

Category:Soccer competitions in Melbourne

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="width:100%"
style="vertical-align:top; width:40%"\| {\| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
GK	20	{{fbaicon\|CRO}} Ivan Kelava
RB	2	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jason Geria
CB	17	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Brendan Hamill
CB	5	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Matthew Spiranovic
LB	3	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jason Davidson
DM	6	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Leigh Broxham
DM	8	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Joshua Brillante (c)
AM	22	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Jake Brimmer		{{suboff\|90+2}}
LW	11	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Ben Folami	{{yel\|72}}	{{suboff\|74}}
CF	18	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Nicholas D'Agostino		{{suboff\|75}}
RW	23	{{fbaicon\|NZL}} Marco Rojas		{{suboff\|82}}
colspan=3\|Substitutes:
GK	1	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Matt Acton
DF	15	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Aaron Anderson
DF	16	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Stefan Nigro
MF	7	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Chris Ikonomidis		{{subon\|74}}
MF	13	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Birkan Kirdar		{{subon\|90+2}}
FW	9	{{fbaicon\|ITA}} Francesco Margiotta		{{subon\|75}}
FW	24	{{fbaicon\|AUS}} Nishan Velupillay		{{subon\|82}}
colspan=3\|Manager:
colspan=4\|{{flagicon\|AUS}} Tony Popovic