Kingborough made history twice in one unforgettable afternoon

Kingborough Lions United made history twice in one unforgettable afternoon.

The Tasmanian club defeated serial winners Devonport Strikers 6-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to claim their first Lakoseljac Cup and, in doing so, secured a maiden Australia Cup Round of 32 berth.

For a club that had never achieved either feat before, Monday will forever hold a special place in their history.

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The significance of the achievement stretched well beyond the silverware.

NPL Tasmania giants Devonport entered the final as the competition's modern powerhouse, having lifted the trophy in 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Kingborough had never won the Lakoseljac Cup in its current format. They had fallen short in finals before in 2000, 2015 and again in 2024.

This time was different. This time they finished the job.

The victory also represents another major step in the club's transformation under head coach Jon Fenech.

Before the final, Fenech spoke not about the occasion itself, but about changing expectations.

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"We wanted to break the top three last year, we did that, now it's about changing mentality and going on and winning something," he said.

On Monday, those words became reality.

Kingborough didn't just win a cup, they changed the narrative around what the club can achieve.

After 52 years of waiting for a state cup, the Lions are finally champions again. And for the first time ever, they are heading to the national stage.