
Legendary South West soccer club Sydney United 58 have won their eighth Waratah Cup final with a 1-0 win over Northern Tigers at Valentine Sports Park.
United 58 experienced the perfect start to the final, with the home side taking the lead thanks to a seventh minute goal from Luke Zuvela.
Receiving on the right flank, Bailey Rule advanced into open space, before finding Mason Wells ahead of him.
The exciting winger took on his marker, dribbling down to the byline and manufactured space for a cutback, which was executed to perfection.
The pass found the run of Zuvela in the box, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net, with an accurate finish that went between two Tigers defenders and past goalkeeper Bodie Denton.
Following the goal, both sides traded periods of possession, where they looked sharp but lacked the incisiveness to create any significant opportunities.
Tigers had their first chance of the match when a good layoff from Kai Denton found Jonathan Green, who saw his menacing effort drag just off target.
The final was beginning to open up, with United 58 creating another opportunity shortly after.
Picking up the ball on the right, Aidan Milicevic hit a beautiful, diagonal pass into the path of Jennings, who had made a crafty run into the box.
The winger controlled the ball to set up a shot on his second touch, but he was denied by the onrushing Bodie Denton.
In the 43rd minute, Jennings had another opportunity to double United’s lead.
A forward pass from Milicevic found the feet of Zuvela on the edge of the box, who promptly poked the ball onwards to Jennings.
The winger received the ball with time to measure a strike, but couldn’t find a way around Denton, with the goalkeeper making a fantastic save to keep his side well in the match.
Tigers began the second half strongly, impressing with the ball in the first 15 minutes without creating any major chances.
As the match went on, Tigers continued to control possession but couldn’t find a way around a strong United 58 defence.
In the 68th minute, the League One Men’s side had a decent opportunity, with Connor Rose winning the ball high with United 58 goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic slightly stranded, but the wingback couldn’t find a shot on target.
United 58 held on comfortably and secured an astonishing eighth Waratah Cup title.