Nobody could miss... until the 22nd penalty changed everything

Sydney United added another famous Australia Cup chapter to their history after edging Central Coast Mariners 11-10 in a marathon penalty shootout.

The NPL NSW club prevailed after one of the competition's greatest shootouts, with 21 consecutive penalties converted before 17-year-old Mariners substitute Callum McCaskey struck the woodwork with the 22nd attempt on Wednesday night.

The gripping contest had finished 1-1 after extra time, with Oli Lavale opening the scoring for Sydney United before Michael Krslovic forced an additional 30 minutes with a 90th-minute equaliser in John Hutchinson's first competitive match as Central Coast coach.

"It definitely got the heart racing," Sydney United coach Miro Vlastelica told Paramount+.

"It is brilliant, this is why we do it. A club with so much history, support... it just keeps rolling and rolling and we go again."

The defeat means the Mariners have now been eliminated by lower-tier opposition four times in Australia Cup history, equalling the competition record.

It comes after NPL VIC giants Preston Lions stunned reigning champions Newcastle Jets following a breath-taking comeback on Tuesday, while NPL QLD leaders Lions FC upstaged Perth Glory earlier in the week.

Elsewhere, NPL WA’s Fremantle City marked their Australia Cup debut in unforgettable fashion, coming from behind to defeat Maitland 2-1 thanks to Ilyas Akhmedov's dramatic 90th-minute winner.

The Western Australian club joined Sydney United in the Round of 16, continuing a memorable week for state league football.

Western Sydney Wanderers avoided an upset with a comfortable 2-0 victory over NPL Capital Football’s Tigers FC in Canberra, where Miguel Di Pizio and Brandon Borrello were on target.

Macarthur FC also progressed with a 3-0 win over Darwin Olympic.