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Sunshine Coast Wanderers are one win away from a potential showdown with an A-league club after the âunderdogsâ advanced in the FFA Cup.
Paul Arnisonâs men knocked over Surfers Paradise Apollo in an extra-time thriller 3-1 which was sealed by a header to skipper Chris Jancevski.
The win means Wanderers have made the last of the preliminary rounds of the cup before the heavyweight teams are introduced.
The Wanderers next face the winner of Gold Coast Knights and Holland Park Hawks.
âWe want to get through to the last 32,â Arnison said.
âIt was a tricky tie and Iâm delighted to get through and keep the magic of the cup alive.â
Operating on a shoestring budget, the incoming signings came predominantly from within Sunshine Coast Football circles.
New additions included Caloundraâs Ethan Galbraith and the returning Wanderer Josh Forshey, Noosaâs Mitch Bridge and the Jancevski brothers Chris and Andre, and Nambour Yandina Unitedâs Jacob Fulluck and Bailey Salisbury.
Key cog Danny Cuttler turned down a more lucrative move in Cardiff to remain on the Coast.
âThatâs what I tried to build here, with the local players,â coach Paul Arnison said.
âWe donât have the biggest budget compared to some other guys, so itâs important having local guys who really want to play for us.
Last season s MVP, Jancevski said the decision to return home was an easy one. It s the highest rated club on the coast playing in the top division and it s always good to be wanted he said. It was a good two years down there I definitely enjoyed it, looking forward to this year though. The defender will now link up on the pitch with his brother Andre. The last time we played together it was at Noosa and we played quite well there, Jancevski said. It s good, he s been down in Canberra and I ve been in Brisbane so it will be good to play together again.