In a titanic struggle, Magic and Azzurri couldn't be separated after 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time at Wanderers Oval.

Both sides had their chances, but failed to convert and the epic struggle was eventually decided 4-3 on penalties. A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of popular local soccer identity Bobby Mountford, who died earlier in the week.

The action was frenetic from the kickoff with both sides trying to stamp their authority early on. It was Azzurri who created the first opportunity after just three minutes with a cross that fell just out of reach of the outstretched Scott Pettit.

The first shot on target also fell the way of Azzurri after 10 minutes but Scott Smith's effort was dealt with easily by the Magic keeper Scott Carter.

A minute later it was Magic's turn to attack but Benn Kelly saved a rasping drive from the impressive Peter Haynes, low to his right.

Haynes was proving to be a real handful for the Azzurri defence, making several raids down the right side of the park, but his crosses into the box could not be met by any of his teammates.

In the 25th minute the deadlock was almost broken when Magic defender Ben Higgins nearly put one into his own net but Carter was quick to react and scrambled back to nullify the danger.

Barely a minute later Higgins almost set up the opener at the other end with a perfectly weighted cross to the far post but Haynes was unable to find the net.

The second half was 20 minutes old before the first chance fell to Haynes but uncharacteristically he failed to get anything onto a near-post header and Azzurri managed to scramble the ball away to safety.

Momentum swung back and forth for the remainder of the second half with both sides creating several chances.

It was left to the retiring veteran defender Glen Cooper to carve out the best opportunity. Collecting the ball near the halfway line, Cooper strode towards goal and unleashed a vicious drive from 30 metres out that was brilliantly tipped away by Kelly.