Queensland will have at least two new representatives in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32, with Frenchville, Surfers Paradise Apollo and Sunshine Coast FC all in contention in the northern and southern regions.
Fire too hot for Eagles
Sunshine Coast FC have delivered their biggest win of the year after routing third-tier club United Park Eagles 7-1 in their Westfield FFA Cup tie at Kawana Sports Precinct.
Eagles ultimately found few answers to a rampant Fire performance that saw Kobe Fuller lead the scoring with a hat-trick, while Shoichi Koshimizu netted a brace and Grant De Chastel and Giacomo Mellini chimed in with a goal apiece.
The Wide Bay Premier Men’s club’s only consolation came via a first-half goal to Brock Young.
The win extends Fire’s best ever return in the national knock-out competition and sees the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues club just one win away from a maiden appearance in the national Round of 32.
Fire will now meet Gold Coast-based Surfers Paradise Apollo in Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 7.
CLICK HERE for the full match report.
Thunder bundled out
Westfield FFA Cup glory must wait at least one more year for SWQ Thunder after they were eliminated 5-3 by Surfers Paradise Apollo at Lex Bell Oval.
After conceding twice in the opening stages Thunder mounted a stirring fightback via goals from Mustafa Jafari and Nykodah Smith to draw level early in the second half.
However, two further goals for Apollo either side of the hour mark put paid to Thunder's Westfield FFA Cup aspirations for 2016.
Striker Lyndon Dykes, who moved to Apollo from Thunder’s league rivals Gold Coast City earlier in the season, did the bulk of the damage for the hosts with a hat-trick, while Wade Russell and Burcin Yorulmas also chimed in.
The result marks the second straight year Thunder have been eliminated at the Preliminary Round 6 stage of the tournament and extends their record of never winning a competitive match on the Gold Coast.
Apollo, who contest the third-tier BLK Premier League, are now just one win away from the national Round of 32 and will host the winner of Sunday’s Sunshine Coast FC and United Park Eagles clash on the Sunshine Coast in the next round.
Thunder are Apollo’s second PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues scalp in the Westfield FFA Cup this year after eliminating Gold Coast City in the previous round.
CLICK HERE for the full match report.
FNQ eliminate Fury again
FNQ Heat are one win away from a third straight Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 appearance after rolling Northern Fury 5-1 at Barlow Park.
Christopher O’Hare and Jamie Carroll both struck doubles for Heat, while Joshua Pin also got on the scoresheet, as the hosts ran away with the contest to record their biggest ever win over Fury.
The visitors fielded a large number of youth players for the tie and their only consolation came shortly after the hour with the tie all but decided as Corey Waples found the back of the net.
The result marks the third straight year that Heat have eliminated their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues rivals from the Westfield FFA Cup – and the second time Heat have defeated Fury this year in a competitive match.
Heat will host Rockhampton-based Frenchville SC in Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 7, with the winner advancing to the national Round of 32.
CLICK HERE for the full match report.
Frenchville defeated Magpies FC 4-2 to book their spot in the decider against FNQ Heat.
