Avondale FC v Sydney FC: FFA Cup quarter-final highlights, live scores, blog

Sydney FC have kept their perfect record against NPL opposition in the FFA Cup, and their FFA Cup winning streak alive, with an extra-time 4-2 win over a valiant Avondale FC.

First half strikes to Trent Buhagiar looked to have sealed the result early for the A-League giant, as Avondale appeared to be struggling from extra-time finals football over the weekend.

Avondale brought the fight in the second half, with a double to Liam Boland bringing the NPL grand finalists back into the contest.

Avondale brought the fire again in the extra time, however Avondale also brought about the changes, it was not enough to stop goals to Milos Ninkovic and Le Fondre, sealing the win and passage to the semi finals for Sydney FC.

Nevertheless, Sydney, Avondale, the FFA Cup and football were the winners tonight, with a great match, lots of goals, and truly, a great example of the magic of the cup.

Final score
Avondale FC – 2
Sydney FC – 4

Match preview:

It’s quarter-final time in the FFA Cup, as Avondale FC take on the might of A-League powerhouse Sydney FC at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve in Melbourne. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 7:30pm (AEST).

If APIA Leichhardt knocking off Melbourne in the round of 16 was huge, Sydney FC are presented with a “hold my beer” moment as they come up against Avondale FC.

And aren’t Avondale lapping it up? Playing the biggest football club in Australia in the quarterfinals of the biggest national domestic cup tournament? Better up the ante, and see if we can land a World Cup winner to play alongside our amateur side.

Whether or not Andrea Pirlo was ever really going to play in this match, the point is that it got people talking even more about a cup competition that is capturing the imagination of all and sundry.

And that is what football in this country needs, more so than Usain Bolt playing 20 minutes in a pre-season trial.

As for Sydney FC, well, they were lucky to get out of Cairns alive, but they will be mindful that the exit of Melbourne proves you cannot take any opposition lightly, and after all, this is a trophy here for the winning.

New coach Steve Corica will still have one eye on the start of the A-League campaign in a month, and perhaps he might use this match as an opportunity to get some more miles in the legs of his new signings, Siem de Jong and Adam le Fondre.

Will we see another ‘cupset’ tonight?

Prediction
I doubt it. If there’s two things I’ve learned in football: never bet on Arsenal away, and never bet against Sydney FC. Sure, we would all like to see the latest David defeat an even bigger Goliath (well, maybe not Sydney fans), but if we expected that to happen, where would be the fun in that? Sydney to win, though not entirely comfortably, and hopefully, Avondale can prove me wrong.

Sydney 3-1.

Catch all the action on The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST), and don’t forget to leave a comment below.

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