Olympic Kingsway and Perth SC move into NPL WA top four cup finals after wins over Perth RedStar

Ben SmithThe West Australian
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Camera IconOlympic Kingsway have booked their spot in the 2024 NPL WA top four cup final. Credit: Vince Caratozzolo

Olympic Kingsway are one win away from a historic treble after outlasting Perth RedStar on penalties to punch their ticket to the NPL men’s top four cup final.

It came as RedStar’s own quest for a women’s treble took a hit as they fell to Perth SC in their semifinal, with the Azzuri also ensuring their spot in the decider on penalties.

The RedStar sides will get a chance to make amends on Tuesday night in the men’s and women’s preliminary finals against Stirling Macedonia and Balcatta Etna respectively after both overcame Fremantle City in Saturday’s other semifinals.

With the league title and State Cup already in Kingsway’s possession, they looked like they might have to go the long way round to book their spot in Saturday’s final after falling behind to RedStar.

Locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, extra-time ensued and former Perth Glory forward Joel Chianese looked to have won it for RedStar when he struck in the 102nd minute.

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But Kingsway hauled themselves off the canvas and Joe Knowles found the net from a corner in second-half stoppage time to send the game to penalties, where they prevailed 6-5 to move one step closer to another trophy.

RedStar will have little time to lick their wounds before they face Stirling, who beat Fremantle 3-2 thanks to a pair of Alex Tanevski goals.

Camera IconPerth SC outlasted Perth RedStar in the women's NPLW top four cup semifinal. Credit: Rob Lizzi

Joshua Bilaloski had given Macedonia the lead, only for an excellent Charles Chechlacz free-kick to deny them a lead at half-time.

But Tanevski’s double-salvo after the break was enough to see Stirling through, despite Riley Woodcock scoring late to set up a grandstand finish.

In the women’s final, Perth repeated their win over RedStar in last weekend’s State Cup final — but they needed penalties to do it after the two teams failed to find the net over 120 minutes.

It was Perth ‘keeper Stacey Cavill who was the hero, making four saves in the shoot-out to help her team confirm their spot in Saturday’s final.

The other semifinal also went to penalties after Balcatta’s Liana Cook and Fremantle’s Mia Yeo swapped second-half goals to send the game to extra-time and then beyond, where Etna got the better of their opponents 3-1 in the shoot-out.

All NPL men’s and women’s games are streamed live on Streamer.

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