After playing their part in the Illawarra Premier League's game of the season, it almost seems cruel that Tarrawanna's 2020 fate was decided in a penalty shootout.
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The Blueys and Albion Park remained locked at 1-all after full time and 30 minutes of extra time, leading to a shootout to decide the winner at JJ Kelly Park on Sunday.
Both sides mustered their first seven attempts. Joel Beattie then tapped Park's eighth shot past a lunging Adam Rodriguez to give his side a slight advantage.
On Tarrawanna's eighth shot, Park goalkeeper Nick Armand managed to stop the shot from Ben Learmonth to keep White Eagles' finals campaign alive.
In an entertaining game from the get-go, the Blueys opened up a 1-0 after 22 minutes through Brody Page. It took until the 69th minute for the White Eagles to equalise through Joel Beattie - and that's how the score would remain until the end of the 120th minute.
In a see-sawing battle, both goalkeepers were arguably best on ground. Fortunately for Park, Armand was able to make that one vital save in the penalty shootout.
Park striker Cameron Morgan told the Mercury that he was delighted that his team secured victory after such a tough contest.
"That was unbelievable. It was a tough one, the boys ground hard. It went to pen shootouts and probably got a bit lucky in the end. It can go either way," he said.
"This young 'Tarra' side, they just run all day. We had a couple of chances, they had some chances too. It was an unbelievable game for spectators.
"But the boys are working hard and we look forward to next week. Hopefully we can get into the grand final now."
Albion Park dominated territory in the opening five minutes but didn't make a dangerous attacking raid on Sunday.
First real threatening moment of the game in the ninth minute, when Tarrawanna's Fumoto Kamada finds some space down the wing. However, after a couple of passes between Blueys teammates, the White Eagles defence shut the play down.
Albion Park's first real chance came around the 15-minute mark, after receiving a free kick just outside the box. However, Cameron Morgan's kick went straight into the Blueys defender.
The missed opportunity didn't seem to deter the White Eagles, who continued to press hard. However, Tarrawanna's defence proved up to the task.
There was a slight delay in the game around the 20-minute mark following a strong aerial challenge between Park's Joel Beattie and opponent Dan Chapman, which Chapman saw stay down on the turf. However, he would remain on the field for the rest of the game.
The delay appeared to spur on the Blueys, who moved the ball forward from the re-start, and a nice passage finished with Brody Page slotting the game's opening goal in the 22nd minute.
Tarrawanna almost doubled their advantage soon after, however, Kamada's back heel slid wide of the goal post.
Beattie continued to look threatening in front of goals for Park, forcing Tarrawanna goalkeeper Adam Rodriguez to make a diving save following a nice strike.
Soon after, Beattie looked set to capitalise on an error from Tarrawanna's Kyle Senior, but his low cross towards Morgan missed the target.
The White Eagles continued to attack and there was a threatening moment when Jacob Martin and Rodriquez collided mid-air, however, the Blueys defence cleared the ball.
Just before half time, Park pressed the ball into the box, but the ball missed Brendon Fordham's foot.
The score remained 1-0 at half time.
The Blueys began the second half full of running, with Kamada twice finding space down the wing - however, both crosses missed the mark.
Soon after, Tarrawanna received a free kick and from the ensuing play, Page headed the ball towards the goal but couldn't find a teammate.
At the other end, Morgan had a wonderful long-range shot which looked good before swinging wide.
Fordham also had a shot from close range which was well stopped by Rodriguez.
On the counter-attack, Kamada again found himself in space before beating his opponent one-on-one before Park shut the play down. There was controversy minutes later when the ball appeared to touch a Park player's hand, however, the referee ruled play on.
Both teams continued to play up tempo football. From a long kick down field, Martin was able to challenge Rodriguez, however, the Blueys gloveman was up to the task.
Park continued to press hard, but the Blueys defence was proving resolute, absorbing pressure from corner after corner.
When they had possession, Tarrawanna also looked dangerous, but Park's defence was also doing well.
From a throw in, Nicolas Tomaisello put through a well weighted pass to Page, however, his cross was shut down by Park's defence.
Despite both teams having plenty of opportunities, the score remained at 1-0.
Kamada again proved to be a huge threat, putting through a nice touch to beat two defenders before drawing a free kick.
From the free kick, the ball bobbled around the box and fell to Chapman - but his shot was blocked by a great diving save from goalkeeper Nick Armand.
The save would prove vital, with Park moving the ball up the other end. Rodriguez managed one save, but the ball fell to Beattie who popped through Park's equaliser in the 69th minute.
Despite the setback, Tarrawanna continued to press hard. From a free kick, Tyson Black had a great long-range shot which was well gloved again by Armand.
Soon after, a wonderful cross from Cody Wehmeyer just beat the boot of a flying Jordan Nikolovski, as the score remained at 1-all.
Nikolovski was again in a dangerous position minutes later, but Rodriguez punched the ball to safety.
Park continued to press, with two opportunities from long and short range, but Rodriguez was able to make a couple of vital saves. Another Park attempt also just went over the cross bar.
At the other end, substitute Bowen Simpson found some space behind the Park defence, before Armand took possession.
The ball continued to move from to the other end, with Rodriguez twice fumbling possession before his defenders cleared the ball.
Both teams started to become more desperate, moving the ball at a frantic pace as the clock ticked down to full time.
However, the score remained 1-all the final whistle, leading to extra time being called.
It was a relatively quiet start to the first half of extra time.
Tarrawanna had the first real opportunity, with a nice through ball almost finding Shuhei Arui's boot, who collided with gloveman Armand. As a result, Park received the free kick.
Soon after, Tomasiello managed to beat his opponent and spread the ball wide to Arui, but his cross missed the target. Chapman then found himself in a dangerous position in the box, with his header going over the cross bar.
But it was Park who had the next attacking raid. A lovely through ball by Beattie found Martin, however, the Blueys defence was able to clear the ball away.
Nikolovski then had a superb shot from out wide, with the ball hitting the cross bar and bouncing away. Nikolovski was in the thick of it soon after with another good shot, which was gloved by Rodriguez.
Nikolovski again looked dangerous in space, crossing the ball infield, but Chapman managed to head the ball away.
At half time of extra time, the score remained 1-all.
The ball continued to move from end-to-end when play resumed, but it was Park who had the first real big moment. Morgan managed to get in behind the Tarrawanna defence, but his low shot was well gloved by Rodriguez.
The Blueys also looked dangerous moving the ball forward, particularly Tomaisello, but they were unable to find that crucial last pass.
While everyone looked exhausted, Park defender Chris Nathaniel seemed to be gaining energy. He had a nice one-two with Morgan, but Nathaniel's shot swung well wide.
Morgan then had a close range attempt of his own which was well gloved by Rodriguez.
With the clock ticking down, Park put a dangerous ball into the box which bounced off a defender's head and bobbed up to Fordham, whose header was tipped over the cross bar by Rodriguez.
Soon after, an error by a Tarrawanna player opened the door for Park's Martin to find some space, but his shot from outside the box was too high.
It would prove to be the last decisive moment of extra time, as the score remained 1-all. This meant the game went down to a penalty shootout.
Both teams went goal for goal in the shootout, each nailing their first seven attempts. Beattie knocked in Park's eighth, before Armand was able to stop Learmonth's next attempt for the Blueys.
While disappointed to lose, Tarrawanna coach Peter Willis said both teams had their chances on Sunday.
"It's a lottery once it comes down to penalties," he said.
"But the boys can hold their heads up high, they've had a good season. We brought in some young lads and they've done really well, we've got a bright future. They give it everything every week, and you can't ask for more than that.
"Obviously we had the two boys [Mitch Ferraro and Zac Mazevski] who got bad injuries last week, which left us a little bit short. But the boys who came in did well. I can't grumble about the season, it's been a good season. We just look forward to next season now."
Albion Park will now meet Bulli in a sudden-death semi-final next weekend, after Bulli fell 3-2 to Wollongong United in Sunday's qualifying final.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
