Caversham ended Manukau City's charmed run in the Chatham Cup with a 3-1 win in a quarterfinal at the Caledonian yesterday.
But victory felt hollow for the South Dunedin club.
The game was marred by a sickening incident after which Manukau City goalkeeper Sergio Bustos was taken to Dunedin Hospital with a broken leg.
He had a heavy collision with Caversham striker Tom Jackson 30 minutes into the second half.
"Things like that happen but it is horrible," as ashen-faced Caversham coach Richard Murray said moments after the final whistle.
"I feel a bit hollow at the moment."
Dunedin Technical's tournament came to a halt when it was thumped 5-1 by Miramar Rangers in Wellington.
In the other fixtures, Lower Hutt City beat Birkenhead United 3-2 and Central United beat Eastern Suburbs 2-0.
Yesterday's game at the Caledonian had been physical but generally played in good spirits.
The tone changed after the clash which left Bustos screaming in pain.
Tempers frayed and, even after a 40-minute delay, a few of the visiting players seemed more intent on exacting some sort of revenge.
Manukau City plays in the third division of the Northern League and was not expected to feature in the final eight of New Zealand football's most prestigious tournament.
But the cup's Cinderella stunned Papatoetoe in the fourth round and then had to scramble to find the finances to travel to Dunedin so they could keep the dream alive.
Two life members chipped in $5000 to help make it possible and, for the opening 30 minutes, the team did the club proud.
Manukau had the game's first real opportunity when the ball fell nicely for classy midfielder Rhys Ruka who blasted a shot at goal.
It drew the best from Caversham keeper Liam Little, who palmed the ball over the bar.
Towering central defenders Michael Day and Jessie Scott used their height to shut down the long ball forward but gradually Caversham's extra pace began to tell.
Kwesi Dadzie was pressured into a hurried back pass but Ant Hancock intercepted it, dribbled around the keeper and slotted the game's opening goal in the 35th minute.
The home side then turned up the pressure. Jude Fitzpatrick's shot hit the crossbar and the ball looked like it may have crossed the line before it was cleared.
Fitzpatrick and his team-mates were was certainly convinced but the goal was not awarded.
Caversham kept the pressure on and Andrew Ridden converted, driving a shot past Bustos.
The home team was denied a third shortly before the break thanks to a superb save.
The second half got off to a controversial start when Matt Bruin was sent off following a second yellow card for a seemingly innocuous challenge in the box. Ruka scored from the penalty spot and the game was in the balance.
Manukau's dreams disappeared minutes later after some clumsy defence from Day. He failed to trap the ball and Hancock sped past and drilled the ball past the keeper.
The striker had a good match but left the field on a stretcher when he pulled a hamstring shortly after scoring what proved to be the decisive goal.
Dunedin Technical made a terrible start to its match, conceding an own goal in the fourth minute.
Victor Da Costa nodded in to make it 1-1, but Sam Mason-Smith scored the first of his two goals moments later.
Former Caversham player Patrick Fleming also got on the scoreboard, slotting a goal in the 77th minute.
Chatham Cup
Quarterfinals
Caversham 3
Ant Hancock 35, 54, Andrew Ridden 45
Manukau City 1
Rhys Ruka 48 pen
Halftime: 1-0.
Other matches:
Miramar Rangers 5 (OG 4, Sam Mason-Smith 26, 84, Patrick Fleming 77, Dominic Rowe 87)
Dunedin Technical 1 (Victor Da Costa 24)
Birkenhead United 2 Lower Hutt City 3
Central United 2 Eastern Suburbs 0
