Bentleigh Greens, the last remaining NPL side in the national knock-out comp, crashed out 2-0 to Adelaide United at Kingston Heath on Friday night.

Anastasiadis’ boys had eliminated A-League opposition on the way to the final four with a 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix in the Round of 32 and looked in with a shot.

But for the second time in five years the semis presented a hurdle too big for the Victorian state side as Ben Halloran (21’) and Jordan Elsey (49’) ended their run.

“Maybe the occasion did get to us a little bit but we’ll learn from it,” Anastasiadis told Fox Sports post-match. “There’s got to be one day when an NPL team will be in the final.”

 

The team heads out to Bali tomorrow for a much-deserved holiday while Anastasiadis has given himself a couple of days to consider a coaching offer from South Melbourne.

“I’ll think about in over the next 48 hours and then make a decision,” he said.

“It’s great here (at Bentleigh) and I’m honoured that a team like South Melbourne want me. I’ll think about it very well, sit down with the family and discuss it and then make a decision.”

   GALLERY: Bentleigh v Adelaide Cup action   

Celebrations after Bentleigh knocked out Phoenix in the Round of 32

In the meantime he is unpacking the loss to Adelaide. It is the first time in this Cup run that Bentleigh conceded, and only the fourth game this year where they failed to score.

It’s clear the latter hurts the most.

“There are moments in games against superior opposition you’ve got to take,” he said.  “We had a couple of those in the first five minutes but it just wasn’t to be today.

“I was happy with the way the lads played, they didn’t panic at any time. I think we pressed hard in the first 15 minutes. I think that was okay but it was also going a millions miles per hour the game.

“After 15 we sort of sat back a little bit and soaked up a bit of the pressure and started to play a bit which was good.

“We continued that in the second half but again it’s moments – set pieces we said – and they came in and scored.

“Nevertheless I’m happy for the boys, they did well this year and we capped it off with a good game today. I just wanted a goal though, for the romance of it. Next time.”