The FFA Cup rolls on for what looks to be the most exciting round yet. We see the reigning premiers in their first competitive outing of the season, two all A-League clashes and the opportunity for three member federation clubs to claim the status of giant killers, and defeat an A-League team.
Will we see a stark upset come to fruition? Like the last matchday? I doubt it.
That’s not to say we won’t have an awesome matchday of football though, seeing the reigning premiers take on an exciting proposition in Perth. We will see the grudge match of John Aloisi against his former side in Melbourne City, and witnessing what could be the last hurrah of the Wellington Phoenix, in their first competitive outing of their potential last season.
What an evening we have ahead of us, I preview each of the day’s games.
Northcote City FC vs Devonport Strikers
Veneto Club @ 7:30 PM AEST
The only all-NPL clash on the final matchday of the round of 32, this is a tie that could really go either way.
The hosts, Northcote City, go into this game with a poor record in the NPL Victoria, as they languish near the bottom of the table and, following an upset over the weekend elsewhere in the league, are now well and truly in a fight to avoid relegation.
The FFA Cup, however, is a different story. As Northcote have enjoyed a strong run, encompassing the ‘Magic of the Cup’, defeating fellow NPL team Green Gully in order to make this debut appearance on the National Stage.
On the contrast, Devonport are enjoying a 5 point buffer on the top of NPL Tasmania, and have been making a strong case that they will feature in the round of 16 for a second time.
Previous matches in the cup
Northcote City: 1-0 vs Mazenod Victory FC, 2-0 vs Green Gully SC, 1-0 vs Murray United, 2-0 vs Altona Magic FC.
Devonport Strikers: 7-0 vs New Town Eagles, 4-3 vs Olympia Town Warriors, 2-1 vs Northern Rangers, 1-0 vs South Hobart.
Just over a month ago, fans and pundits of the A-League were informed that the shortlist of teams being considered for expansion into the A-League did not include a team from Tasmania, despite many believing the opportunity for expansion in the state was ripe for the league.
Football in the ‘Apple Isle’ is a growing beast, with talented players rising through the ranks of the A-League. This was proven by Melbourne City full back Nathaniel Atkinson’s success in the 17-18 season, rising through a competitive squad to have a breakout year, only eclipsed by the fact that the footballing world’s eyes were glued to another youngster in the squad, Daniel Arzani.
Northcote’s first go on the national stage will end here, and Devonport will seek to send a message to the FFA and Australia, to try and prove that they were wrong to overlook Tasmania.
Prediction: Northcote City 1-3 Devonport Strikers
Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne City FC
Dolphin Stadium @ 7:30 PM AEST
Let me take you back six years, it’s 2012, social media is processing the fact that the world is ending, the Western Sydney Wanderers were running rampant in their first season and the City Football Group were nowhere near expanding to Australia.
Melbourne Heart fans rejoice as it is announced that Socceroos legend John Aloisi will be taking over the Head Coach position at the club.
Fast Forward to 2018, that season is still the worst in Melbourne City’s history and Aloisi manages the Brisbane Roar…
Yet the resentment remains, City fans are Anti-Aloisi and therefore Anti-Brisbane.
In the first All A-League tie for the night, these teams seek to open up their campaigns this season with a strong run in the FFA Cup, potentially even silverware.
Brisbane have never progressed past the Round of 16, yet their fans will fancy their chances this season after a strong transfer period and success in their pre-season ties against teams like the Wellington Phoenix.
Melbourne City, however, will have a thirst for blood. After going down in last year\’s A-League semi final and the 2017 FFA Cup quarter final against Sydney FC, City will relish the opportunity to return to competitive football.
After a transfer period of largely reinforcing their attacking stocks, Riley McGree on loan from Club Brugge, and Michael O\’Halloran from Rangers, they will fancy their chances on the attack.
Previous matches in the cup
Melbourne City FC: N/A
Brisbane Roar: N/A
City has enjoyed a bit of a mixed pre-season, going down 6-0 to La Liga side Girona but beating out Indian opponents Kerala Blasters by the same scoreline at a City Football Group tournament in India.
Those matches, accompanied by a pre-season visit from Manchester City Head Coach Pep Guardiola, should be more than enough to get City over the Roar on Tuesday night.
Prediction: Melbourne City FC 3-1 Brisbane Roar
Gold Coast Knights versus Newcastle Jets
CBUS Super Stadium at 7:30 PM AEST
The first match of the night involving a David versus Goliath scenario, and wow, isn’t that phrase accurate. Reigning grand finalists and fan favourite from last A-League season, Newcastle Jets, face off against fourth tier opponent Gold Coast Knights who are the lowest ranked team remaining in the cup.
While this seems an easy task for the Jets, if they get complacent it could prove to be anything but.
They played in Spain on Saturday morning (AEST), and face a huge turnaround to get home for this match.
To add to this, the mental block for Newcastle could be ever present as they have had four previous appearances in the Round of 32, and they’ve never gone any further. Beaten by A-League opponents at the first hurdle every time, Jets fans might finally be able to see their side in the Round of 16.
Previous matches in the cup
Gold Coast Knights: 1-0 versus Surfer’s Paradise Apollo SC, 1-0 versus Broadbeach United SC, 3-2 versus Gold Coast United FC, 2-1 versus SWQ Thunder FC, 1-1 (Pens) versus Sunshine Coast FC.
Newcastle Jets: N/A
While myself and probably everyone watching (aside from Newy fans) will be hoping for an upset of Gargantuan proportions, I don’t see it happening.
Prediction: Gold Coast Knights SC 0-4 Newcastle Jets
Bentleigh Greens versus Wellington Phoenix
Kingston Heath at 7:30 PM AEST
27 Matches and whatever they can fashion here, that might be all that the Wellington Phoenix have left. In the most high profile of the member federation versus A-League games, this match is huge for both teams.
Sitting comfortably in third place in NPL Victoria, Bentleigh Greens will be eager to demonstrate their talent as a club on the national stage, and against a club that could cease to exist come this time next year, they will fancy their chances.
This is the third year in a row that Bentleigh have qualified and given they’ve gone as far as semi-finals before they’ll be hopeful of a similar finish this time around.
This is a big game for the Phoenix in all meanings of the word. They have never played against a non A-League club in a competitive match, and have only progressed past the Round of 32 once in their history.
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The ‘Nix’ will be hoping to start strong under the guide of new head coach Mark Rudan. (Formerly of the APIA Leichhardt Tigers) in their first competitive outing with Rudan at the helm, Wellington will have a new look line-up as they have had a very active transfer period.
Previous matches in the cup
Bentleigh Greens: 4-0 versus Box Hill United SC, 3-2 versus St Kilda SC, 3-1 versus Goulburn Valley Suns FC, 4-0 versus Kingston City FC.
Wellington Phoenix: N/A
In what I’m predicting to be one of the best matches of the night, both of these teams will be seeking blood and I expect a high scoring affair.
Prediction: Bentleigh Greens 2-4 Wellington Phoenix
Perth Glory versus Melbourne Victory
Dorrien Gardens at 8:30 PM AEST
The last of the three all A-League clashes of the Round of 32, we see Perth Glory come up against a team I’ve personally never heard of. Nope, I definitely haven’t been suffocated on social media by this team’s kit on a Japanese superstar.
Yes, Melbourne Victory have been somewhat prominently featured in the media lately. As they’ve made recent waves in Australian football by signing Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda. Yes as you’ve probably heard, the biggest club in the land has got bigger and better.
Unfortunately for the Victory, he’s come too late for this match. And they travel to Western Australia with a side devoid of any offensive firepower after their losses of both star players Leroy George and Besart Berisha, alongside young gun winger Christian Theoharous.
Victory will be hoping FFA Cup cult hero ‘King’ Kenny Athiu can strike them into the Round of 16.
Perth Glory are going to be challenging for an Asian Champions League spot this season, I’ve called it here first (Honestly I’m probably not first). Perth coach Tony Popovic has had an excellent transfer period. Reinforcing one of his side’s weakest points, their defence, by signing former socceroos Jason Davidson and Matthew Spiranovic. Amongst some other exciting prospects signed up by the Glory.
Former matches in the cup
Perth Glory: N/A
Melbourne Victory: N/A
Victory’s poor record in Perth under Kevin Muscat doesn’t bode well for the boys in blue, neither does the fact that Victory are approaching the game with a squad built for Keisuke Honda, without Keisuke Honda.
Perth to win in a close game.
Prediction: Perth Glory 2-1 Melbourne Victory
Hellenic SC versus Western Sydney Wanderers
Darwin Football Stadium at 8:30 PM AEST
It’s the second consecutive year that Northern Territory’s sole Round of 32 representative has drawn a A-League club, and despite a stunning run of form in the Norzone Premier League they are right up against it.
In their own right, Hellenic have proven they have the ability to score goals. With a goal record of 57-9 in the Northern Territory, they well and truly deserve the spot in the Round of 32.
One player which may prove the story of the tournament is that of Helio Carvalho. The 48-year-old scored seven times in Hellenic’s qualifying run which seen them win score 20 goals and concede none. Should he play, he’ll be the oldest ever player in the FFA Cup.
Unfortunately they’ve been drawn against a new-look Western Sydney Wanderers, under the rule now of German manager Marcus Babbel they’ll be keen to put in a good shift in his first competitive match as Wanderers manager.
There are a slew of new players among the Wanderers ranks, with Tarek Elrich returning from Adelaide United, young guns Bruce Kamau and Ruon Tongyik, and German defender Patrick Ziegler.
Previous matches in the cup
Hellenic AC: 4-0 versus Darwin Olympic SC, 2-0 versus University Azzuri, 5-0 versus Palmerston Rovers FC, 9-0 versus Verdi FC.
Western Sydney Wanderers: N/A
Although it’s always fun to see a Member Federation club knock off an A-League team, we won’t be seeing it here.
Prediction: Hellenic AC 1-4 Western Sydney Wanderers
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