PlayStation 4® National Premier Leagues giants Tigers FC and Canberra FC will clash in the tie of the round after the two NPL heavyweights were paired in the Round of 16 Capital Football Westfield FFA Cup Qualifiers.
Ironically the pair will meet this weekend in the local Premier League competition giving both clubs the chance to run the rule over the opposition ahead of what is promising to be a no-holds-barred epic encounter at Hawker Football Centre.
“The Tigers are a tough team to play and it’s one that we definitely would have liked to have avoided,” Canberra FC Head Coach Zoran Glavinic commented at the draw ceremony held at Deakin Stadium. “In saying that we would have liked to have avoided any Premier League team in this round, but that’s how the draw is and we will move on.
“We have a bye the Sunday before so that will be beneficial for us. We play the Tigers FC this weekend so we will see what happens. It will allow us to see what they have got and we can see how we go.”
Brindabella Blues, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, were rewarded for their giant-killing of Goulburn Strikers in the previous round by drawing NPL powerhouse Canberra Olympic with the fixture scheduled for as early as next Wednesday. The State League 3 team have it all to do against an Olympic side who have started the season firing on all cylinders.
“It’s David versus Goliath isn’t it?” Blues Head Coach Jason Warren-Smith said. “It could have been easier for us but we will give it a shot. Our boys are without doubt up for the challenge. We are excited by it as you can see today [at the draw] half the room is full of Brindabella [Blues players]. It’s really captured the imagination and we will be prepared for it.
“We know they are a quality side. The beauty is there is not much time to prepare as we play on Wednesday so we will do a bit of homework between now and then. I assume they wouldn’t know much about us, but at the end of the day we will just go out and play our game, give respect to the opposition and you never know. A bit of luck here or there and anything is possible.”
In other ties State League 1 Lanyon United will be hoping to provide a shock when they clash with NPL side Monaro Panthers with Capital League team Narrabundah Bulls, who downed O’Connor Knights in their opening tie, hoping to upset the apple-cart against Gungahlin United. Meanwhile, Woden-Weston FC meet Tuggeranong United, last season’s Westfield FFA Cup entrants, in an all-NPL affair.
Two non-Premier League clubs are guaranteed a place in the last eight, with ANU FC meeting Capital League peers Queanbeyan City and White Eagles taking on State League 1 side Weston-Molonglo FC.
WESTFIELD FFA CUP QUALIFERS
ROUND OF 16
Tuesday 28th April
Narrabundah (CL) v Gungahlin United (18:00)
Lanyon United (SL1) v Monaro Panthers (20:30)
Wednesday 29th April
Brindabella Blues (SL3) v Canberra Olympic (20:10)
Tuesday 5th May
Woden-Weston FC v Tuggeranong United (18:00)
ANU FC (CL) v Queanbeyan City (CL) (20:00)
Wednesday 6th May
Tigers FC v Canberra FC (20:10)
Tuesday 12th May
White Eagles (CL) v Weston-Molonglo FC (SL1) (19:00)
Kick-Off times subject to change
