FFA Cup WINNERS Adelaide United will start their Cup defence against Victorian NPL giants Melbourne Knights in one of a host of blockbuster ties after the FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 draw was held on Wednesday night.
The Reds - under new boss Gertjan Verbeek - will head to Melbourne in a potentially trick Round of 32 clash against a Knights side that have produced some scintillating football during the FFA Cup 2019 Preliminary Rounds.
And in striker Hamish Watson - formerly of Wellington Phoenix - they have a player with Hyundai A-League experience and in excellent goalscoring form.
The Reds became the first team to win the competition twice after beating Sydney FC 2-1 in last year's FFA Cup Final.
And the Sky Blues quest to qualify for a fourth consecutive FFA Cup Final will start at home against fellow Hyundai A-League side Brisbane Roar.
In one of the most intriguing match-ups of the FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32, Steve Corica's men will be the first competitive opponents of new Roar boss Robbie Fowler.
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Fowler is embarking on a new era in Brisbane and has already made six new signings this week as he looks to beef-up his Roar squad.
Another all Hyundai A-League tie will see premiers Perth Glory - two-time FFA Cup finalists - host Western Sydney Wanderers.
The clash pits Glory boss Tony Popovic, who guided the Wanderers to the 2014 AFC Champions League title and three Hyundai A-League Grand Finals, up against his former employers.
As well as Adelaide's clash with the Knights, there were three other Member Federation v Hyundai A-League match-ups which throw up possible giant-killing opportunities.
Tiny Northern NSW NPL side Maitland FC did superbly just to reach the national stage and now get a crack at Alen Stajcic's Central Coast Mariners.
It's a clash that is sure to have extra-special meaning for Maitland's veteran midfielder Matt Thompson, who as a former Newcastle Jets star would love to knock-off their F3 Derby rivals.
Australian NPL Champions and current South Australian NPL league-leaders Campbelltown City host Melbourne City, while Brisbane Strikers go up against Wellington Phoenix.
Marconi Stallions are the focus of our Road to the FFA Cup 2019 Final journey and they have been drawn for an away clash in Tasmania against South Hobart.
Veteran APIA Leichhardt attacker Franco Parisi - who was part of the NSW NPL side that shocked Melbourne Victory last year - and current Western United FC assistant coach John Anastasiadis conducted the draw.
All the FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 fixtures
- Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
- Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
- Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets
- Tigers FC v Hume City
- South Hobart v Marconi Stallions
- Adelaide Olympic v Floreat Athena
- Magpies Crusaders v Coomera Colts
- Olympic FC v Bayswater City
- St George v Sydney United 58
- Darwin Olympic v Edgeworth Eagles
- FC Bulleen Lions v Moreland Zebras
- Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Manly United
- Maitland FC v Central Coast Mariners
- Melbourne Knights v Adelaide United
- Campbelltown City v Melbourne City
- Brisbane Strikers v Wellington Phoenix
NOTE: Teams mentioned first will play at home
