Tony Popovic has set his sights on winning the Westfield FFA Cup after the Western Sydney Wanderers moved into the quarter-finals with a big win over Edgeworth Eagles.
The Wanderers showed their quality in a clinical performance at Magic Park, running out 5-1 winners over the Northern NSW NPL champions in the round of 16.
“Now we get to the quarter final stage we want to go all the way now,” Popovic told Fox Sports.
Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 MD 2 wrap
“Once you get to this stage, the final eight, I’m sure teams would be lying if they are in the quarters and say they don’t want to win it.
“Now we’ve put ourselves in a position that we can go further and hopefully we can do that.”
It was an unlikely duo who put the Wanderers in control in the Hunter, with fullbacks Scott Neville and Brendan Hamill scoring as the visitors led 2-0 at the break.
Neville added his second early after the resumption before ageless former Central Coast Mariners Daniel McBreen pulled one back for the hosts.
But a late double to substitute Brendon Santalab ensured there would be no comeback and completed a good night for the Hyundai A-League club.
“We’ve been working really hard, been pushed to our limits because we want to go that next step not only for the A-League season but also the FFA Cup and also the [AFC Champions League,” Neville said.
“We’ve got a big year ahead and we just keep rolling on.”
Japanese import Jumpei Kusukami was one of the Wanderers' best, with Popovic expecting the winger to have a big impact during the Hyundai A-League season, with one eye already on the round one Sydney Derby.
“He’s still settling in, adapting to what we want to do in Australia and in the league,” Popovic said of Jumpei.
“But there was some good signs tonight. We’ve still got six weeks to go until round one and he’ll be a lot better by them.”
