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Macarthur will face Melbourne Victory in the final of the 2024 Australia Cup after beating gallant NPLM Victoria side South Melbourne 1-0 in their semi-final.
Macarthur FC will be out to win their second Australia Cup in three years after defeating South Melbourne 1-0 in their semi-final at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
Striking from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, Valere Germain's fourth goal of the Bulls' Cup campaign proved enough for the visitors, who will face Melbourne Victory - champions in 2015 and 2021 - in the decider.
The game had appeared destined for extra time, only for Lucas Inglese to collide with Jake Hollman as the two contested a high Liam Rose delivery into the box.
French striker Germain didn't disappoint, slotting home the ensuing penalty.
The date and venue for the final will soon be determined by Football Australia.
Seeking to become just the second side from outside the A-League to qualify for a final - Macarthur beat Sydney United in the 2022 decider - South started well, with Max Mikkola forcing Filip Kurto into a close-range after three minutes.
The Pole would prove the busier of the two keepers in the opening half, but South obviously missed their attacking talisman, Harrison Sawyer. The striker signed for Macarthur midweek and was unable to feature on Sunday.
The Bulls created their first truly threatening chance in the 27th minute when Ivan Vujica and Marin Jakolis combined to spring the former into the space needed to test Javier Diaz Lopez.
South would respond with another Mikkola chance soon after. However, playing their 39th competitive fixture of 2024, the semi-professional outfit faded as the second half progressed.
Lopez was forced to deny Danny De Silva in the 51st minute after a penalty-area scramble, but he could do nothing about Germain's penalty.