Marconi Stallions, Mount Druitt Town Rangers, Manly United, Sydney United 58 and St George FC will represent NSW in the FFA Cup round of 32 after all five teams won their respective round 7 FFA Cup Preliminary matches on a blockbuster Wednesday evening of football.
Shockwaves hit the South Coast as current NPL NSW Men’s league leaders Wollongong Wolves were knocked out of the FFA Cup thanks to a courageous performance by fellow NPL NSW Men’s Mt Druitt Town Rangers who took out the match 1-0. An unfortunate own goal as early as the third minute after some neat build-up play by new recruit Mirjan Pavlovic saw the ball ricochet past Wolves keeper Justin Pasfield and it was all she wrote as Aidan Desmond’s men recorded a famous victory against their highly fancied opponents. It was nail biting stuff with less then then minutes to go as Nick Trimble saw red but the boys from Mt Druitt held on to win their first ever spot in the round of 32.
Belmore Sports Ground saw two famous former NSL rivals go toe to toe as Sydney Olympic took on the Marconi Stallions. It was the visitors who claimed a memorable win putting further pressure on the Blues coach Abbas Saad who have failed to win a match in the last three weeks with a 3-1 victory. Goals from James Andrew, Marko Jesic and Marty Fernandez with the easiest of tap-ins had the Stallions humming before Jason Madonis hit a consolation penalty which came too little too late as Peter Tsekenis’ men won their third trip to a round of 32 adventure.
Sydney United 58 were made to work hard for their round of 32 spot as they were pushed to the limit taking out courageous NPL 2 NSW Men’s outfit Northern Tigers 3-2 at the Sydney United Sports Centre. The Tigers got off to the best possible start as Shervin Adeli scored early before Tariq Maia hit back for the hosts a couple of minutes before the break. Peter Simonoski thought he would the match in normal time bagging a goal with eight minutes to go before Rhys Williams’ header sent the game into extra time. It was Patrick Antelmi who kept his cool and drilled home his spot kick to gift United 58 their fifth round of 32 FFA Cup run.
Cromer Park saw a cliff-hanger of a match with Manly United scoring deep into extra time from the spot kick via Brendan Cholakian after scores were locked at 0-0 following ninety minutes of a tough display of football from both ends. Its now the third time Manly United will compete in the round of 32.
Historic NPL 2 NSW Men’s side St George FC made light work of NPL 3 NSW Men’s outfit Dulwich Hill running riot with a convincing 4-0 victory at Valentine Sports Park. Club captain Hussein Akil led by example with the ace marksman bagging a brace while Brad Bartels added the club’s third before Matias Da Silva Santos put the icing on the cake right on full time to put the Saints through to their first ever FFA Cup Round of 32 placing.
The Round of 32 fixtures will be played over three (3) match days (Tuesday or Wednesday) between the 23 July – 7 August with the Round of 16 to be played on two (2) match days between 20 August – 28 August.
The Quarter Finals have been condensed to one-week (two (2) match days) to avoid Member Federation Grand Finals and congested periods and to assist Hyundai A-League clubs with their season preparations and will be played on two match nights between 17-18 September.
The FFA Cup 2019 Semi Finals will revert back to midweek fixtures on 1-2 October, to avoid the NPL Finals Series and congested competition calendar.
The FFA Cup Final 2019 will also be moved forward from last year to the evening of Wednesday, 23 October.
The draw process and principles for the Round of 32 of the FFA Cup 2019 will be remain the same with the draw ceremony to be conducted LIVE on FOX SPORTS on Wednesday, 26 June 2019.
