The Newcastle Jets have won the Australia Cup, ending the fairytale run for Heidelberg United with a 3-1 win in extra time at a capacity Lakeside Stadium.
This trophy is the Jets’ first since they won the A-League championship in 2007-2008 and since then, they have only made the finals once.
Jets star Max Burgess was voted as the Mark Viduka Medallist as best on ground in the final while the win means former Socceroos captain Mark Milligan has claimed his first trophy as a coach.
The Jets will also receive entry to the AFC Champions League 2 competition next year.
“It is a nice start, but as I said more, more importantly, for us, it’s a reward for the work that these boys have put in during preseason,” Milligan said.
“We’re trying to implement a new way of doing things. As I said, I ask a lot of them from a physical point of view from. A footballing point of view.
“It just helps me sort of with this process that we’re going through. I mean, make no mistake where I see us in future, we’re nowhere near that.”
Bergers coach John Anastasiadis praised his players for going so close to a fairytale cup win, it was their 40th game of their season and they still have at least six more games in the new Australian championships which begin in the coming weeks.
“I think it was a good game football, it had everything,” he said.
“Especially the crowd, it was a fantastic spectacle, and I’m really proud of everyone. And I’m proud of my boys.
“This is the 40th game this year. They just fought like lions today, and unfortunately, just felt a bit short.”
Ryan Lethlean gave the Bergers the lead in the opening minutes, but the Jets fought back with Max Burgess levelling the game.
Neither side could score again in regular time but Jets substitute Oscar Fryer conjured a stunning strike in the first half of extra time to give the Jets a 2-1 lead.
Jets skipper Kosta Grozos and Bergers substitute Johnny Apostolopoulos were both shown red cards within a minute of each other in the second half of extra time.
Jets substitute Ben Gibson extended the lead to 3-1 late in extra time.
Jets defender Max Cooper was a late scratching after coming down with gastro, he watched the game from the team hotel but was called by Milligan post game who reported the young star was “in better spirits now”.
Anastasiadis said he still hoped some of his players would earn A-League deals or chances to move to professional football.
“They haven’t done themselves any disservice,” he said.
“You can get a knock on the door, and I told them football changes every day. It can change in a moment so, I’m hoping some of them do get a chance.”