APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32

APIA Leichhardt Tigers will head into their FFA Cup Round of 32 clash against Port Melbourne Sharks next week in a confident mood after winning NSW’s Waratah Cup on Saturday.

Beaten by Hakoah Sydney City East in the 2017 final, there was to be no giant-killing this time around as the Tigers strolled to a 3-0 victory at Lambert Park.

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Both sides are again involved in the 2018 FFA Cup, which begins on Wednesday, July 25 with the first six matches of the Round of 32.

APIA travels to Melbourne to take on Victorian NPL outfit the Sharks, while Hakoah is involved in an all-NSW NPL affair with Bonnyrigg White Eagles on the same night.

Billy McColl’s APIA are league-leaders in NSW and showed that form on Saturday, hitting top gear from the opening minute.

Jordan Murray’s brace did the damage for the Tigers, with the NPL NSW Men’s golden boot favourite striking early in both halves.

When the Tigers’ frontman clinched his brace with a superb bullet header five minutes in the second half, the match as a contest was all over.

The APIA striker has also notched 18 goals in the NPL NSW Men’s this season.

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Hakoah coach Rae threw caution to the wind later in the second half but his side was unable to carve a way through a resolute Tigers backline, and were nullified by APIA at each attempt.

Their desperate attempts to get back into the match saw the Tigers add gloss to a dominant display late on, when Sean Symons combined with Franco Parisi and unleashed an unstoppable drive from outside the box.

  • Lead image courtesy of Football NSW