It’s back! The Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 blasts off this Wednesday night. Here’s your complete preview to what's shaping as another night of Cup drama from Melbourne to Sydney to Cairns and Darwin.
Hume City v Marconi Stallions
Wednesday 27 July 2016
ABD Stadium, Broadmeadow (VIC)
Kick-off: 7.30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Brennan
Assistant Referee 2: Wilson Brown
Fourth Official: Jarred Gillett
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
TV Broadcast: 7.00pm (AEST) Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 5 (Channel 506)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #HCIvMAR #FFACup
Hume City squad: 1.Chris Oldfield (gk), 2.Daniel Chabaani, 3.Jeremy Walker, 5.Peter Franjic, 6.Ramazan Tavsancioglu, 7.Kofi Danning, 8.Theo Markelis, 9.Tom Cahill, 10.Joseph Franjic, 12.Daniel Clark, 13.Shane Rexhepi, 14.Kym Harris, 18.Karl Baricevic, 20.Jordan Franken (gk), 21.Kristian Trajceski, 22.Deniz Yildiz, 24.Sam Beninato, 26.Jordan Fahim, 28.Hernan Espindola, 39.Nicholas Hegarty
Marconi Stallions squad: 1.Chad Taylor (gk), 2.Jacob Carluccio, 3.Ante Markovic, 4.Simon Valastro, 5.Peter Pelekanos, 6.Raimond Coletta, 7.Mirjan Pavlovic, 8.Sean Rooney, 9.Yasser Al-Taay, 10.Marko Jesic, 11.Sam Perre, 12.Bright Appiah, 13.Sebastian Ceza, 14.Petar Markovic, 15.Robert Perre, 16.Noah Chianese, 17.Steven Drewery, 18.Brandon Vella, 19.Samuel De Oliveira, 20.Alexander Gornall (gk), 21.Kristian Sekutkoski (gk), 22.Emmanuel Giannaros, 23.Christopher Nunes, 24.Christopher Godoy-Bascur, 25.Philip Makrys
Bluffer’s Guide
Hume are back! But this time, instead of playing the role of plucky underdog they face an NPL 2 side, one they’ll be expected to beat.
How City deal with that mindset could be key at the ABD. Not to mention the effect of losing talismanic coach Lou Acevski on the eve of the club’s biggest game of the year.
It was shock news, coupled by Marconi also parting ways with their gaffer on the same day in one of the most bizarre news days in Cup history.
The FFA Cup has helped transform this ambitious PS4 NPL Victoria outfit in Melbourne’s west.
Now, the challenge is emulating last year’s success – one which saw Hume reach the semi finals and launch the A-League career of Jai Ingham.
As for Marconi, this is a perfect opportunity to remind fans of their history.
The former NSL powerhouse may be in NPL 2 but with a trio of big name ex-A-League signings, could this be Marconi’s night for a Cup fairytale.
If keeper Chad Taylor can keep Hume out between the Stallions sticks, and the in-form strike trio of Pavlovic, Jesic and Rooney can wreak havoc up front, who knows?
At a venue that’s already witnessed a cavalcade of Cup theatre in the last year, this will be a fascinating night’s entertainment.
See how both sides fared on the weekend
Blacktown City v Sydney United 58 FC
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Lily’s Football Centre, Seven Hills (NSW)
Kick-off: 7.30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referee 1: Lance Greenshields
Assistant Referee 2: Leigh Pigram
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Online Broadcast: Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand and Apple TV via FOX SPORTS Now
Radio Broadcast: Alive 90.5 (90.5FM) or online at www.alive905.com.au
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BLCvSUN #FFACup
Blacktown City squad: 1.Nenad Vekic (gk), 3.Giorgio Speranza, 4.Roberto Speranza, 5.Isaac Dandan, 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 8.Sasa Macura, 9.Joseph Gibbs, 10.Connor Evans, 11.Danny Seung-Joo Choi, 12.Jonothan Grozdanovski, 14.Mitchell Mallia, 15.Shayne D’Cunha, 16.Patrick Antelmi, 17.Lewis Beumie, 18.Jake Mamone, 19.Zachary Cairncross, 20.Dylan Niski (gk), 21.Riku Sasaki, 22.Dakota Askew, 40.Tristan Prendergast
Sydney United 58 FC squad: 1.Luke Babic (gk), 2.Kristopher Vlismas, 3.Masato Mochizuki, 4.Eddy Bosnar, 6.Chris Payne, 7.Yutaro Shin, 8.Peter Triantis, 10.Robert Mileski, 11.Nikola Taneski, 14.Nicholas Stavroulakis, 17.Theo Kofinas, 18.Glen Trifiro, 19.Matthew Bilic, 20.Tomislav Uskok, 21.Thomas Manos (gk), 22.Yianni Frgogiannis, 23.Panagiotis Nikas, 24.Jacob Tratt, 33.Nathan Sherlock
Bluffer’s Guide
It’s a Sydney derby! A western Sydney derby to be precise.
United and City meet for a spot in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16, and while t may not be Fox Sports’ feature match, the clash could just be the game of the night.
United, coached by former Hyundai A-League defender Mark Rudan, are runaway leaders in the PS4 NPL NSW.
And to add a cherry to an already stellar campaign, United took out the Waratah Cup title this month against Manly United.
Now, can they add FFA Cup win on the national stage to a sensational 2016?
Rudan’s star-studded side features the likes of ex A-League players Chris Payne (Sydney FC), Eddy Bosnar (Mariners) and Panni Nikas (North QLD Fury).
But Blacktown City will be no easy beats.
Mark Crittenden’s side are second in the NPL this season and are the only side to have defeated United, a 3-2 win early in the campaign.
City will take confidence from that clash and will fancy their chances front of a packed and vocal home crowd at Lily’s Football Centre in Seven Hills.
And both clubs will feel it's their time to make a splash in the Cup - what isn't in doubt is this will be a ripper.
See how both sides fared on the weekend
FNQ Heat v Edgeworth Eagles
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Barlow Park, Cairns (QLD)
Kick-off: 7.30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham
Assistant Referee 2: James Sherry
Fourth Official: Adam Kersey
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Online Broadcast: Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand and Apple TV via FOX SPORTS Now
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #FNQvEDG #FFACup
FNQ Heat squad: 1.Kevin Ward (gk), 2.Shaun Owens, 3.Shimon Watanabe, 4.Josh Jennison, 5.Ari Isman, 6.Jamie Gosling, 7.Joshua Pin, 8.Chris O'Hare, 9.Jamie Carroll, 10.Kieran Sanders, 11.Darcy McCormack, 13.Mqondisi Nkiwane, 14.Tamas Maffey-Stumpe, 15.Matthew Filip, 16.Bronson Koppen, 18.Jack Glover, 19.Liam White, 20.Josh Wilson (gk)
Edgeworth Eagles squad: 1.Jim Fogarty (gk), 2.Daniel McBreen, 3.Domenico Bizzari, 4.Patrick Wheeler, 5.Ayden Brice, 6.Lachlan Pasquale, 7.Bren Abbot-Hammel, 8.Daniel Minors, 9.Brody Taylor, 10.Keanu Moore, 11.Dylan Holz, 12.Aden Gardner, 13.Liam Spurway, 14.Chris Fayers, 15.Josh Evans, 16.Samuel Maxwell, 17.Keigo Moriyasu, 18.Will Bower, 19.Aaron McLoughlin, 20.Joshua Low (gk)
Bluffer’s Guide
Both sides come into this clash in sizzling form with Heat leading the ultra-competitive PS4 NPL QLD ahead of Brisbane Strikers by ONE point, while the Eagles are third in the Northern NSW NPL.
Last year, the Eagles almost caused a stunning upset against Melbourne City in the Round of 32, grabbing an unlikely 1-0 lead before two Aaron Mooy free kicks rescued the Hyundai A-League outfit.
Edgeworth are arguably a stronger proposition this time around with the addition of starman Keigo Moriyasu in cahoots with a familiar name in Daniel McBreen.
The Japanese attacking midfielder, with 14 goals so far this season, has been a revelation with his wizardry from set pieces.
YouTube sensation set for Cairns FFA Cup clash
Heat are into the Round of 32 for the third straight year and will be hoping to progress for the first time after falling at this stage to Sydney United and Oakleigh Cannons in the last two editions.
Skipper Jamie Carroll is QLD’s equal leading scorer this season with 13 goals while English midfielder Jamie Gosling has experience in the FA Cup playing for Yeovil Town against Liverpool back in 2004.
See how both sides fared on the weekend
Rovers Darwin FC v Brisbane Strikers
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Darwin Football Stadium, Darwin (NT)
Kick-off: 7.00pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Tim Lay
Assistant Referee 2: Ricardo Vico de la Rosa
Fourth Official: Ryan Prescott
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Online Broadcast: Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand and Apple TV via FOX SPORTS Now
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #DARvSTR #FFACup
Rovers Darwin FC squad: 1.Matthew Ashton (gk), 2.Dexter Newman, 3.Daniel Bulman, 4.Gary Waters, 5.Marvin Wilding, 6.Simon Bell, 7.Alexander Duff, 8.Matthew Cawley, 9.Carl Marshall, 10.John Drohan, 11.Dean Molloy, 12.Warren Barry, 13.Harry Chiles, 14.Stephen Elliott, 15.Adam McDermott, 16.Graham Goherty, 17.Jamie McIvor, 18.Robert Ward, 19.Matthew Davies, 20.Padraic Bradley, 21.Patrick Dandy, 22.Darren Redmond, 23.Richard Wilson (gk), 24.Ben Clements
Brisbane Strikers squad: 1.Sebastian Usai (gk), 2.Chris Maher, 3.Tomas Ross, 4.Jake Marshall, 5.Greig Henslee, 6.Fraser Hills, 7.Felli Sheriff, 8.Michael Angus, 9.Rhys Meredith, 11.Jonti Richter, 12.Shaun Carlos, 13.Sam Knight, 14.Jake McLean, 15.Jesse Weimers, 16.Fraser Stevens, 17.Hiroki Omori, 18.Trent Clulow, 19.Luke Marsh, 20.Michael Weier (gk), 21.Sam Johnson, 24.Ryan Palmer, 25.Lachlan Weier
Bluffer’s Guide
In one of the more intriguing match-ups, Rovers host former NSL powerhouse Brisbane Strikers at Darwin Football Stadium.
Rovers were only promoted to the Darwin Premier League this season but have held their own against powerhouses Darwin Olympic and Hellenic FC.
Rovers stunned NT’s 2015 FFA Cup entrants Olympic to claim this year’s spot and will be dreaming of an upset win over the powerful Brisbane outfit in front of their home supporters.
Star Rovers striker Carl Marshall has netted a bagful of goals for the campaign and the hosts will be hoping the attacker can replicate his hot-form on the national stage.
Strikers bowed out in the Round of 32 last year and will be desperate to progress this time around against a side they will be expected to beat.
Rhys Meredith is the danger man for the visitors with the gun attacker in hot form, netting 13 goals in the PS4 NPL QLD.
Strikers should have too much class but in a one-off knockout clash, who knows?
