The Australian season is over for expat Wanganui footballer James Musa after his South Melbourne FC team lost their PlayStation 4 National Premier League semifinal 2-1 at home to MetroStars SC on Sunday.
A 2014 All White, defender Musa had a tough start to the match as he went upto head away a swinging cross at the South Melbourne goal mouth, but the ball slipped past keeper Chris Maynard for an own goal in the 11th minute.
His team replied after 36 minutes when Jamie Reed sent in a cross for centre-forward Milos Lujic to score the equaliser.
Reed then had a chance to take the lead when Lujic was fouled, but his penalty attempt was blasted over the bar to leave the scores level at halftime.
The South Australian visitors grabbed what proved the match winner in the 56th minute when Scott Tunbridge smashed his shot inside the near post.
MetroStars SC will now go on to the National Premier League final this weekend against New South Wales champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles, who won their semifinal 1-0 over Queensland champions Palm Beach SC.
It is the second 2014 playoff heartbreak for Musa, who played for Team Wellington last summer in the ASB Premiership, who were narrowly beaten 1-0 in March's final against Auckland City.
He still had a strong 12 months as a key member of two of the strongest domestic competition clubs on both sides of the Tasman, while earning an All Whites call-up to play South Africa in May.
