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Waterford advance on penalties in Sligo

Tuesday 21st August 2007, 10:44 pm

Robbie Hedderman struck the decisive penalty.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Waterford United have advanced to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup following a marathon third round replay with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds. After a 2-2 draw in ninety, extra-time couldn't produce a winner with a penalty shoot-out eventually going 4-3 in favour of Waterford.

As one of the form teams in the league, Sligo were expected to get past relegation threatened Waterford but just as on Friday, it was a very tight affair.

Paul McCarthy put Waterford ahead after only eight minutes when he turned home from Karl Bermingham's cut back from the endline.

Although they struggled for a while after falling behind, Sligo were level on 17 minutes as Fahrudin Kudozovic curled home a superb free kick for his twelfth goal of the season.

Sligo then went on to dictate the pace for the remainder of the half and Gavin Peers crashed an effort against Dean Delaney's crossbar.

Rovers eventually went ahead three minutes into the second half when Matthew Judge fired home from close range as Kudozovic's corner eventually found its way to him.

However, Sligo couldn't hold onto their lead and Vinny Sullivan levelled for Waterford on 67 minutes via an upright. Nipping in on Pat Flynn's pass, there were shouts for handball as Sullivan controlled but with no decision, the Waterford striker fired home to level at 2-2.

Neither side could add any additional goals in the remaining time or in extra-time so a penalty shoot out arrived.

Each goalkeeper saved two spot kicks before Robbie Hedderman eventually slotted home the decisive kick in sudden death to send Waterford through. The shoot-out had produced fourteen penalties before Waterford ran out 4-3 winners.

Sligo Rovers : Brush, Coleman, Ventre, Peers, McKenzie, O'Grady (Foy 118), Cretaro (Manson 86), Hughes, Judge, Kudozovic, Boyd (Cash 66).
Waterford United : Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Brosnan, Breen, Scully, Lordan (Warren 46), McCarthy, Sullivan, Kavanagh (A Mulcahy 109), Bermingham (Kiely 95).