IT happened again. An FFA Cup 2016 match was decided by an incredible long-range strike. The only difference was that Liam Boland’s goal should never have decided the match.

On Round of 32 matchday one, Danny Choi’s 70-yard effort propelled Blacktown City to a further three goals in extra-time to rout Mark Rudan’s Sydney United 58 6-2.

Then on Tuesday night 24-year-old Boland came up with a similar effort to make Green Gully just the second state-level side to defeat A-League opposition in the FFA Cup.

The Gully forward spotted Mariners goalkeeper Ivan Necevski off his line and unleashed an inch-perfect strike that sent 876 cold but boisterous fans into delirium.

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Liam Boland and Green Gully teammates celebrate his goal. Source: Getty Images

But that wasn’t the first goal Boland was attributed with in the match.

Central Coast were leading 1-0 via a 15th minute Nick Powell goal when Gully equalised with a controversial strike in the 85th minute.

Captain Daniel Jones scrambled to kick a cross into Mariners’ net, but the ball actually deflected off Boland - who was in an offside position - and went in. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

So in reality Gully never should have equalised. But that’s not where the story ends.

The Mariners’ lead should’ve been doubled in the 41st minute. A lovely through ball was played to Powell for a one-on-one opportunity. With Roy O’Donovan waiting in the middle, the striker passed the ball square for the Mariners player to tap it into the net for a certain goal.

But according to the referee it wasn’t a goal. To the bewilderment of O’Donovan, the referee raised his flag to indicate the striker was offside. Replays showed the O’Donovan wasn’t in front of Powell’s pass - at best he was in line.

In the end not only were the Mariners denied a goal because of offside, but Green Gully were awarded one because their player was offside.

Did it change the match? Yes, because Green Gully would’ve been required to score two goals instead of one to just equalise.

But in the end, the fans got what they really wanted - a crazy goal and a crazy result.

Gully coach Arthur Papas couldn’t have been more thrilled.

“I can’t be prouder. It wasn’t just the last six minutes, I was proud of the whole game,’’ Papas said.

“From kick-off we didn’t take a backward step. We went behind early and it’s very easy against a professional team to drop your heads.

“But we spoke about staying in the game as long as possible, we believed we had the legs, belief and spirit to keep going.’’

But the goalscorer himself was almost lost for words.

“I can’t believe it. I’m lost for words,” Boland told Fox Sports.

“I’ve tried it a few times this year in the state-league and it hasn’t come off.

“It was about time and it just happened to be on this stage, so I’m really thankful for that.

The goal meant even more to Boland because of the impact it would have on his club.

“This club’s been dying for this,” said Boland.

“It’s a long time since they’ve been on the national stage.

“We fought really hard today and we didn’t put our heads down when we were 1-0 down.

“We came out in the second half with a lot of belief and we did that.”

WE'VE DONE IT!!! Stunning goals to Boland and Jones earns us a 2-1 come from behind win!!!! #GRGvCCM #FFACup pic.twitter.com/iDGS5esRfq — Green Gully SC (@GreenGullySC) August 2, 2016

Sitting here watching #GRGvCCM with my dad. Said I trained with Liam Boland in Perth, and that he's got a sweet left foot. Nek minnit 😎 — Danny Vukovic (@vuka20) August 2, 2016