Some familiar names and some new to the fold – get the rundown on the clubs who are through to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 from Football NSW.
This year Football NSW will have six entrants in the Round of 32 – their five allocated slots plus Sydney United 58 FC, who gained automatic qualification after taking out the PS4 NPL Final Series last October.
With the most number of entrants of the nine Member Federations, this year’s clubs from Football NSW comprise a mix of seasoned Round of 32 campaigners along with some chomping at the bit to be involved for the first time.
Here are the clubs who will compete in Westfield FFA Cup 2017 Final Rounds from Football NSW…
Sydney United 58 FC #SUN
League: PS4 NPL NSW
Home Venue: Sydney United Sports Centre (223-227 Edensor Road, Edensor Park)
Website: sydneyunited58fc.com
Twitter: @SydUtd58FC
Facebook: facebook.com/SydneyUnited58FC
Head Coach: Mark Rudan
How they qualified
Gained an automatic spot as the PlayStation 4 NPL 2016 Champions of Australia (winners of last year’s national PS4 NPL Finals Series).
Westfield FFA Cup history
2014 - Knocked out in Round of 16 by Sydney FC 3-1 at Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
2015 - Knocked out in Round of 16 by Heidelberg United 2-0 at Olympic Village, Heidelberg West
2016 - Knocked out in Round of 32 by Blacktown City FC 6-2 (in extra time) at Lily’s Football Centre, Seven Hills
Lowdown
Sydney United 58 FC is one of three Member Federation clubs (along with fellow PS4 NPL NSW club Blacktown City FC and FNQ Heat in Queensland) to have reached the Round of 32 every year since the Westfield FFA Cup began in 2014.
Heading into this campaign, the former NSL club will miss the playmaking ability and mastery of attacking midfielder Panny Nikas who recently left to play professionally in Thailand, but they still boast a host of quality personnel including former Hyundai A-League forward Matt Sim, who scored four goals for the Central Coast Mariners in a Westfield FFA Cup Semi Final against Palm Beach Sharks in 2014.
Their previous wins in the Final Rounds were against FNQ Heat (in 2014) and South Hobart in a penalty shootout in 2015, both of which were at home. Then last year they were on the receiving end of a remarkable Blacktown City FC comeback and one of the greatest Westfield FFA Cup goals last year when Danny Choi scored from his own half in a 6-2 extra time result.
With the luxury of not having had to play throughout the Preliminary Rounds in 2017, Head Coach Mark Rudan will have his charges determined to progress to at least the last eight as they are yet to get past the Round of 16.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers #ALT
League: PS4 NPL NSW
Home Venue: Lambert Park (Marion Street, Leichhardt)
Website: apiatigers.com
Twitter: @apialeichhardt
Facebook: facebook.com/ALTFC
Head Coach: Danial Cummins
How they qualified
Round 4
APIA Leichhardt 3
Leichhardt Saints Senior 0
Round 5
Killarney Districts 0
APIA Leichhardt 4
Round 6
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
APIA Leichardt Tigers 2 (Corey Bizco, Matthew West)
Round 7
APIA Leichardt Tigers 2 (Paul Galimi, Matthew West)
SD Raiders FC 1
After extra time
Westfield FFA Cup history
First appearance in the Round of 32
Lowdown
Bundled out in Round 6 last year and Round 5 in 2015, APIA Leichhardt finally get their opportunity to prove themselves on the Westfield FFA Cup national stage. But it could well have been a different story.
After their first three Preliminary Round matches this year, which included a tricky away assignment in Round 6 against fellow PS4 NPL side and last year’s Round of 32 entrant Bonnyrigg White Eagles, they had yet to concede and seemed destined to take their place in the last 32 as they faced a home Round of 32 decider against SD Raiders, a side two divisions lower.
However, any thought of an easy ride to the Final Rounds proved to be anything but as, despite creating a plethora of chances, APIA Leichhardt found themselves 1-0 down deep into stoppage time.
On the brink of elimination, the home side won a penalty and converted it with the last kick in regulation time to send the game to extra time.
They then produced another miracle when Paul Galimi pounced minutes away from the match going to a penalty shootout to progress and add yet another magical memorable chapter to the Westfield FFA Cup.
The Tigers are currently enjoying a strong PS4 NPL NSW season, at the time of writing sitting second behind Blacktown City FC.
The balance of league and Westfield FFA Cup commitments will test their resolve but Coach Danial Cummins is sure to not leave any stone unturned in making the most of their first time back on the national stage.
Bankstown Berries #BER
League: PS4 NPL 2 NSW
Home Venue: The Crest Athletic Centre (McClean Street, Georges Hall)
Website: berriesfc.com
Twitter: @BankstownBFC
Facebook: facebook.com/BankstownBerriesFC
Head Coach: Perry Moustakas
How they qualified
Round 4
Bankstown Berries 2
East Gosford FC 0
Round 5
Dunbar Rovers 0
Bankstown Berries 2
Round 6
Dulwich Hill 1
Bankstown Berries 2 (Andreas Vais, Daniel Fornito)
Round 7
Bankstown Berries 1 (Jake Bradshaw)
Sydney Olympic 0
Westfield FFA Cup history
First appearance in the Round of 32
Lowdown
One of the first clubs formed in Sydney having competed in the very first New South Wales State League as Canterbury FC, the Bankstown Berries are one of two Football NSW clubs in the Round of 32 from the second division of PS4 NPL.
Flying under the radar for much of the Preliminary Rounds, few would have kept track of the Berries’ progress as they were on a collision course with PS4 NPL and former NSL powerhouse Sydney Olympic in the Round of 32 decider.
But no one read the PS4 NPL 2 side the script as they stunned their more fancied opponents at The Crest, Jake Bradshaw’s second half goal proving the difference on one of the biggest nights in the club’s history.
Currently sitting 10th on their league table, the Berries will likely hold the underdog tag on whoever they draw in the Round of 32 but as Victorian club South Springvale proved in the first year, anything can happen once you are in the Round of 32.
Blacktown City FC #BLC
League: PS4 NPL NSW
Home Venue: Lily's Football Stadium (Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills NSW)
Website: bcfc.com.au
Twitter: @BlacktownCityFC
Facebook: facebook.com/BlacktownCityFC
Head Coach: Mark Crittenden
How they qualified
Round 4
Kirrawee Kangaroos 0
Blacktown City FC 6
Round 5
Blacktown City FC 2 (Danny Choi 66’, Mitch Mallia 90’)
Lokomotiv Cove 1
Round 6
Blacktown City FC 2
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1
Round 7
Bulli FC 0
Blacktown City FC 3
Westfield FFA Cup history
2014 - Knocked out in Round of 32 by Bentleigh Greens 1-0 at Lily’s Football Centre, Seven Hills
2015 - Knocked out in Round of 32 by MetroStars 2-1 at Lily’s Football Centre, Seven Hills
2016 - Knocked out in Quarter Finals by Sydney FC 3-0 at Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Lowdown
Blacktown City FC, like fellow PS4 NPL NSW club Sydney United 58 FC, are no strangers to the Westfield FFA Cup Final Rounds as they prepare to play in their fourth straight Round of 32.
The first two years did not go to plan as they were beaten at home by Bentleigh Greens and MetroStars at the first hurdle, before they enjoyed more success last year reaching the Quarter Finals where they were eventually outclassed but far from disgraced by a Sydney FC team that went on to win the Hyundai A-League Championship.
Despite the loss, last year’s Blacktown City FC campaign will largely be remembered for the amazing 6-2 win over Sydney United 58 FC, which saw Danny Choi’s wonder strike among one of four extra time goals after it was 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.
Notably, Blacktown City FC have only ventured from their home at Lily’s Football Stadium once in their five Westfield FFA Cup Final Round outings to date, and that solitary occasion was when they played their Quarter Final against Sydney FC last year at Sydney United Sports Centre due to broadcast requirements.
Blacktown City FC have built a culture of success and the PS4 NPL 2015 Champions of Australia continue to be one of the benchmarks in the PS4 NPL NSW competition, where they currently sit on top of the table at the time of writing.
Hakoah Sydney City East #HAK
League: PS4 NPL NSW
Home Venue: Hensley Athletic Field (Corish Circle, Eastgardens)
Website: hakoahfc.com.au
Twitter: @hakoahfc
Facebook: facebook.com/HakoahSydneyCityEastFC
Head Coach: Gavin Rae
How they qualified
Round 4
Inter Lions SC 1
Hakoah Sydney City East 6 (Anthony Frangie (5), Jordan Mundell)
Round 5
Hakoah Sydney City East 1
Manly United FC 1
Hakoah won 4-2 on penalties
Round 6
Hakoah Sydney City East 3 (Andre De Jong (2), Anthony Frangie)
Albion Park White Eagles 3
Hakoah won 4-2 on penalties
Round 7
Rockdale City Suns 1
Hakoah Sydney City East 3 (Oliver Green, Andre De Jong, Jordan Mundell)
Westfield FFA Cup history
2014 - Knocked out in Round of 32 by Palm Beach Sharks 2-1 at Hensley Athletic Field, Eastgardens
2015 - Did not qualify for the Round of 32
2016 - Did not qualify for the Round of 32
Lowdown
Hakoah Sydney City East were forced to do it the hard way to qualify for their second campaign in the Westfield FFA Cup Final Rounds after their first and only appearance back in 2014 when they were knocked out in the Round of 32 by the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach Sharks.
An easy first up win over Inter Lions, which saw Anthony Frangie record a five goal haul, was followed by two ‘heart in mouth’ penalty shootout victories against fellow PS4 NPL NSW and former Round of 32 qualifier Manly United and then Albion Park White Eagles, a match that finished 3-3 at the end of extra time.
But Hakoah Sydney City East undoubtedly saved their best performance until last as they shot out of the blocks early to defeat Rockdale City Suns 3-1 away from home to book their spot on the national spotlight.
Coached by former Scottish international Gavin Rae, who has played in the Scottish Cup and League Cup, the lads from Hakoah Sydney City East will take heart from his experience and knowledge of what it takes to compete in and win cut throat matches. One only has to look at the results and the steely resolve Hakoah has shown up to this point to know they will be a dangerous opponent for whoever they draw in the Round of 32.
Hills United #HIL
League: PS4 NPL 2 NSW
Home Venue: Russell Reserve (Withers Road, Rouse Hill)
Website: hillsunitedfc.com.au
Twitter: @HillsBrumbies
Facebook: facebook.com/hillsunitedfc
Head Coach: Dan Sheppard
How they qualified
Round 4
Glebe Gorillas 1
Hills United 6 (Divan Laubscher, Nikolas Dimitriadis (3), Peter Cejka)
Round 5
St George City FA 2 (Luke Maait, Mudrek Abaid)
Hills United 8 (Peter Cejka, Jacob Basden (2), Nathan Rayner (2), Nikolas Dimitriadis (2), Bradley Robertson)
Round 6
Wollongong United FC 3
Hills United 6 (Peter Cejka (3), Glen Kelshaw, Matias Toro Suazo, Nikolas Dimitriadis)
Round 7
Hills United 5 (Victor Anyimba, Wade Giovenali, Nikolas Dimitriadis, Nathan Rayner, Peter Cejka)
Kemblawarra Fury FC 2
Westfield FFA Cup history
First appearance in the Round of 32
Lowdown
The team based 48 kilometres northwest of Sydney’s CBD join Bankstown Berries as the other non PS4 NPL top league club from Football NSW in the Round of 32.
The Brumbies managed to avoid facing a PS4 NPL opponent on their way to the Round of 32, and while it is sure to be a big step up come the Round of 32, there is no doubt that come game time under the big lights of the Westfield FFA Cup Final Rounds, they will be ready to relish the occasion.
Futsalroos captain Greg Giovenali is the most recognisable name in a squad that has proven through the Preliminary Rounds to have no shortage of goal scoring options, although Nikolas Dimitriadis and Peter Cejka have both featured regularly on the score sheet.
With 25 goals in their four Preliminary Round matches while conceding eight, regardless of who Hills United draw in the Round of 32, you can be certain that they will not die wondering and will back themselves to score more than their opposition.
