The FFA Cup 2021 Round of 32 continues on Wednesday night with NPL SA Champions Adelaide City taking on Melbourne Victory at Marden Sports Complex (7:30pm local time, 8:00pm AEDT).
City will take to the pitch for the first time in competitive action since defeating Adelaide Comets on penalties in the NPL SA Grand Final over a month ago.
Paul Pezos’ side, who finished second to Comets at the conclusion of the regular season, ended an 11-year drought after suffering defeat in each of their three previous Grand Final appearances between 2016 & 2018.
Central defender Lachlan Barr, who was named Man of the Match in City’s Grand Final win, along with Captain,Matt Halliday and exciting young attacker Asad Kasumovic, were all named in the RAA NPL SA Team of the Season and shape as key figures if City are to pull off a ‘Cupset’ on Wednesday night.
Halliday and midfielder Nicholas Bucco were part of the last City side to defeat A-League opposition, when the Zebras famously pulled off the first ever ‘Cupset’, beating a Tony Popovic coached Western Sydney Wanderers side 1-0 thanks to a Thomas Love strike in 2014.
City, who qualified for the Round of 32 for a second time thanks to wins over MetroStars, Sturt Lions, White City and Adelaide Hills Hawks, will look to again produce some cup magic in the year they celebrate their 75th anniversary.
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Popovic will again be in the opposition dugout on Wednesday night with the new Victory boss taking charge of his fourth competitive match since taking the job.
Popovic’s side have enjoyed a perfect start to the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s season, winning their opening two matches against Western United and Brisbane Roar.
Victory sit top of the league two rounds into the new season and are the only side with a 100% win record still intact.
Victory booked their spot in the Round of 32 just last week, defeating Perth Glory on penalties at Marden Sports Complex.
Jerrad Tyson was the hero in the shoot-out, saving two penalties before Anthony Leban slotted home the winner for a rotated Victory side.
Rotation will again be a factor for the Victory with the 2015 FFA Cup Winners facing another four-day turnaround before returning to A-League action against Perth Glory at AAMI Park on Sunday.
You can catch all the action from Wednesday’s match live and free via 10 Play.
FFA Cup 2021 Round of 32
Adelaide City vs Melbourne Victory
Date: Wednesday, 1 December 2021, 7:30pm local, 8pm AEDT
Venue: Marden Sports Complex, Adelaide
Broadcast: Live & free via 10 Play
Tickets: Buy here
