Super Tuesday is back and it looms as the most spectacular match-day ever, as the Westfield FFA Cup round of 16 reaches its finale.
There’s a magical Sydney derby, a clash of Hyundai A-League heavyweights in SA, South Springvale's 'pub team' fly to the Gold Coast while Victorian minnows the Saints are plotting a glorious upset in Melbourne.
Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC
Venue: Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
KO: 7.30pm AEST
#SUvSYD
TV broadcast: LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 3 and 3HD
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
This is what the Westfield FFA Cup is all about.
The NSW NPL club trying to bring down one the Hyundai A-League’s powerhouses and local rivals in Sydney’s west in arguably the tie of the round of 16.
United boss Mark Rudan, a championship winner with Sydney FC, aiming to take down the Sky Blues, whose coach Graham Arnold and assistant Zeljko Kalac both kick-started their careers at Edensor Park.
It’s not just the great sub-plots which make this an intriguing match-up.
United, NPL champions last year, will relish taking on Sydney’s professionals and warmed up for the match with a well-deserved 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix.
They have Hyundai A-League experience in former Phoenix man Mirjan Pavlovic, who scored a brace in the last round, as well as ex-Sky Blues Nathan Sherlock and Alec Urosevski.
Sydney have been one of the best-performed sides in pre-season, losing just once and – like United – played Phoenix in their last hit-out drawing 0-0.
That’s three straight clean sheets for the Sky Blues who are getting their defence right but with Corey Gameiro, Alex Brosque, Bernie Ibini and Mark Janko have loads of firepower too.
It should be a drama and action-packed 90 minutes – and possibly more – on what should be a cracking night of football in this fascinating Sydney derby.
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Venue: Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh
KO: 7pm (local) 7.30pm AEST
#ADLvBRI
Referee: Shaun Evans
Coverage details: LIVE updates on FOX SPORTS 3 and 3HD
With Adelaide City already through to the last eight, the Reds will be hoping to add another South Australian side into the draw for the quarter-finals.
Josep Gombau’s side head into the match in good form, having beaten Melbourne City 2-0 in a friendly last week with goals from Awer Mabil and new-boy Craig Goodwin.
Goodwin won’t get a chance to face the Roar though as he is cup tied having played for Newcastle Jets in the round of 32.
Brisbane have been in exceptional goal-scoring form of late, smashing nine past Queensland NPL champions Palm Beach Sharks last week.
But they were dealt a blow on the eve of the game with goal-keeper Michael Theo ruled out with a wrist injury picked up in training. Jamie Young will take the gloves against the Reds.
German star Thomas Broich will be there though and he scored four in the clash with the Sharks and looms as the danger man for the visitors.
Henrique and Liam Miller both bagged doubles in the shellacking of the Sharks and are also in fine touch. So it’s not just Broich that Roar can count on.
It promises to be edge-of-the-seat stuff between two sides who have serious claims on winning the Cup in its inaugural year.
St Albans Saints v Perth Glory
Venue: Knights Stadium, Sunshine
KO: 7.30pm AEST
#SASvPER
Referee: Lucien Laverdure
Coverage details: LIVE updates on FOX SPORTS 3 and 3HD
Perth are in for a tough night as Victorian NPL1 outfit St Albans try to cause another Cup boilover by bringing down the Hyundai A-League side.
The Saints should head into this huge challenge in a confident mood having beaten Dandenong City 4-0 on Sunday, snapping their two-game losing streak.
Barry Devlin scored a stunner to sink Parramatta in the last round and will fancy a crack at the Glory, while player/coach Ryan McGuffie, Christopher Ross and Sean McIlroy are also enjoying fine seasons for the club.
It will be a home-coming of sorts for new Glory signing Diogo Ferreira, who has strong ties to the Saints with his Melbourne home just around the corner from Knights Stadium.
Current Glory operations manager and ex-player Ante Kovacevic was also a St Albans junior, spending six years at the club.
But there will be no room for sentiment with a spot in the last eight on the line.
Import Andy Keogh has found the net regularly in pre-season and was the hero in the last round but Glory have threats all over the park.
Palm Beach Sharks v South Springvale
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
KO: 7.30pm
#PBSvSS
Referee: Alan Milliner
Coverage details: LIVE updates on FOX SPORTS 3 and 3HD
Fatigue could be an issue for Queensland’s NPL champions against the self-proclaimed “pub side” from Victoria.
Palm Beach have had a busy schedule over the past few weeks and Tuesday night’s clash will be their fourth game in just 12 days.
They are a fit bunch under coach Grae Piddock, though.
It started with their Queensland NPL grand final triumph back on September 12, followed by a 9-0 hammering against the Roar in a friendly a few days later.
Grae Piddick’s side then travelled to Weston Workers on the weekend for the PS4 NPL finals, coming from a goal down to win 2-1.
Star striker Chris Lucas grabbed the equalizer on Saturday and will again be the go-to man for the home side.
Jarrod Kyle, once on the books of Sydney FC, and defender Kristian Rees make the Sharks warm favourites in this one.
But you would never write off the battlers from South Springvale.
The bunch of part-timers from Victoria’s third-tier have been the fairytale story of the competition so far and why can’t it keep going on the Gold Coast?
Goal-keeper Rani Dowisha was the hero in the last round but in a blow for Bill Lambropoulos, Darragh Ryan and ex-NSL midfielder Billy Damianos were unable to get time off work and won’t play.
They still have some great talent, including Sotiros Dimitrakopoulos, Hameed Ali, Luke Burgess and Alexandru Florea, who are ones to keep an eye on.
Could there be another Cup shock on the cards?
