2018 FFA Cup

[sydmariner]

Personally I'd Prefer WSW or Rockdale City away

 

[Blackadder]

Cairns away..could do with some Warm weather for a road trip.

 

[priorpeter]

In order of preference - Cairns, Devonport, or Canberra please!!

 

[marinermick]

Charlestown City Blues and Ljubo please

 

[sydmariner]

The draw can be seen live here
https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/watch-ffa-cup-round-32-draw
https://www.foxsports.com.au/footba...e/news-story/c2a1890ffc3edd9e6eea4c1d27684d69

 

[sydmariner]

Macca is doing the draw now LIVE

 

[sydmariner]

BTW scum have NEVER won a single FFA Cup game

 

[sydmariner]

We have Adelaide United away

 

[sydmariner]

Sydney FC Play Rockdale City Suns

 

[sydmariner]

i think we can win this one

 

[Big Al]

Another 1st rnd defeat

 

[Blackadder]

Well at least we don’t have to worry about losing to a State league side first up.

 

[sydmariner]

2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed
The Magic of the Cup has thrown up a huge local derby with NSW NPL club Rockdale City Suns to take on reigning champions Sydney FC in just one of a host of mouth-watering match-ups after the draw for the FFA Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday night.

The draw was conducted in Sydney by former Central Coast Mariners striker Daniel McBreen and Blacktown City star Danny Choi, who scored one of the greatest goals ever scored in the FFA Cup.

And the draw threw up some intriguing ties.

The other three ties pitting a Member Federation club against a Hyundai A-League club sees Northern Territory’s Hellenic Athletic take on Western Sydney Wanderers, 2014 semi-finalists Bentleigh Greens hosting Wellington Phoenix and the Gold Coast Knights coming up against Newcastle Jets.

There’s a replay of the 2015 FFA Cup Final with Perth Glory hosting Melbourne Victory, while one of the highly-anticipated all-Member Federation ties sees Victoria’s Avondale go up against NSW outfit Marconi Stallions.

The other all-Hyundai A-League ties sees Brisbane Roar do battle with Melbourne City, while Adelaide United hosts Central Coast Mariners.

Other fascinating all-Member Federation ties include Heidelberg United v Charlestown City Blues, Port Melbourne Sharks going up against APIA Leichhardt Tigers and an all-Queensland clash between Lions FC and Olympic FC.
FFA CUP 2018: ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES

• Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
• Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
• Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
• Northcote City FC v Devonport Strikers
• Port Melbourne Sharks v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
• Lions FC v Olympic FC
• Heidelberg United v Charlestown City Blues
• Gwelup Croatia v Adelaide Comets
• Canberra FC v Broadmeadow Magic
• Cairns FC v Armadale SC
• Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Hakoah Sydney City East
• Avondale FC v Marconi Stallions
• Hellenic Athletic v Western Sydney Wanderers
• Gold Coast Knights v Newcastle Jets
• Bentleigh Greens v Wellington Phoenix
• Rockdale City Suns v Sydney FC

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2018 FFA CUP FIXTURES

• The Round of 32 fixtures will be played over four match nights (Tuesday or Wednesday) between 24 July and 8 August (four matches per night).
• The Round of 16 to be played on two match nights between 21 August and 29 August.
• The Quarter Finals – which will be played on two match nights between 18 September and 26 September – have been shifted from last year to avoid a crossover with Member Federation National Premier Leagues (NPL) Grand Finals, as well as September’s FIFA International Window.
• The Semi-Finals will be played on a stand-alone weekend in early (6-7) October, two weeks prior to the commencement of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
• The FFA Cup Final 2018 will be played in October for the first time, with the evening of Wednesday, 31 October locked in for the competition’s showpiece.

WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE 2018 FFA CUP

FOX SPORTS will again provide comprehensive coverage from the Round of 32 onwards.

The FFA Cup’s official broadcaster will show one LIVE match per match night while providing coverage and updates, as well as live streams, of all non-broadcast matches.

Details regarding the FOX SPORTS broadcast and streaming will be announced closer to the start of the Round of 32.

Keep an eye on the official site - www.theffacup.com.au – for more information.

 

[sydmariner]

FFA CUP 2018 Round of 32 Draw Conducted
The 4 big Round of 32 match-ups

READ: 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed

The pick of the all-Member Federation fixtures sees Avondale SC from Victoria host the former NSL powerhouse club the Marconi Stallions and Armadale SC has the daunting task of a 3440km trip from Western Australia to Northern Queensland where they will play Cairns FC.

Other fascinating all-Member Federations ties include Lions FC who will face their local Brisbane rivals Olympic FC, Bonnyrigg Eagles FC meeting fellow NSW NPL club Hakoah East Sydney FC and debutants Gwelup Croatia and the Adelaide Comets meeting in Perth.

Adelaide United will host the Central Coast Mariners, Perth Glory will meet Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar FC will face Melbourne City FC in the three all-Hyundai A-League club match ups.

The specific match details in regards to the dates, venues and kick-off times will be announced shortly.

FFA Cup 2018 - Round of 32 Fixtures

Home Team

v

Away Team

Adelaide United

v

Central Coast Mariners

Perth Glory

v

Melbourne Victory

Brisbane Roar FC

v

Melbourne City FC

Northcote City FC

v

Devonport Strikers

Port Melbourne Sharks SC

v

APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC

Lions FC

v

Olympic FC

Heidelberg United FC

v

Charlestown City Blues FC

Gwelup Croatia SC

v

Adelaide Comets

Canberra FC

v

Broadmeadow Magic FC

Cairns FC

v

Armadale SC

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC

v

Hakoah East Sydney FC

Avondale FC

v

Marconi Stallions FC

Hellenic Athletic Club

v

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Gold Coast Knights FC

v

Newcastle Jets

Bentleigh Greens SC

v

Wellington Phoenix

Rockdale City Suns FC

v

Sydney FC

Note: Dates, venues and kick-off times will be announced early next week.

Note: Under the FFA Cup Regulations, Wellington Phoenix are unable to host matches.

 

[sydmariner]

The 4 big match-ups of the FFA Cup Round of 32
2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed

ROCKDALE CITY SUNS v SYDNEY FC

It’s a local derby pitting a team from western Sydney against the Sky Blues.

While it’s not the Wanderers it’s still a mouth-watering match-up in this Member Federation v Hyundai A-League clash.

Rockdale are coached by former Sydney FC midfielder Paul Reid, who still works for the club in a community role.

Could his inside knowledge of the Sky Blues – the 2017 FFA Cup champions – help mastermind one of the biggest upsets in Cup history?

Reid isn’t the only Sydney connection in the Suns squad, with the likes of Alec Urosevski, Bai Antoniou and Trent McClenahan all previous playing for the Sky Blues.

And Rockdale’s keeper is none other than former Wanderers gloveman Ante Covic, who would love to keep a clean sheet against Sydney FC.

It will also be a first competitive match at the helm for new Sky Blues coach Steve Corica since taking the reins from Socceroos-coach-in-waiting Graham Arnold.

PERTH GLORY v MELBOURNE VICTORY

In one of three all Hyundai A-League clashes, Tony Popovic will get a serious early test of his Glory rebuild when they host grand final winners Victory.

Popovic is looking to overhaul Glory’s playing style and culture and the battle with Kevin Muscat’s side will be the perfect indication if he’s on the right track.

Glory has a strong record in the FFA Cup, making the final in the first two years of the competition, including a 2-0 loss to Victory in the 2015 decider.

Like Perth, Victory is set to have a vastly different squad for the new season and it will be interesting to see how quickly they can settle in what will be very early into their pre-season schedule.
AVONDALE SC v MARCONI STALLIONS

The all-Member Federation clash that jumps out sees Victorian NPL high-flyers Avondale taking on ex-NSL and current NSW NPL side Marconi.

Both outfits are packed with talent and will fancy their chances of going deep into the competition.

For Avondale, they have a player who knows all about this competition and will be the man the Stallions will need to stop.

Striker Liam Boland is a regular scorer in the FFA Cup, including a stunning strike for Green Gully a couple of years ago which eliminated the Central Coast Mariners.

But Marconi, back in the NPL after a couple of seasons in the second-tier in NSW, boasts a squad with plenty of Hyundai A-League experience, including the likes of Mateo Poljak, Michael Beauchamp, Marko Jesic and Marc Warren.
HELLENIC ATHLETIC v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Talk about David v Goliath.

The tiny club from the Northern Territory have been handed a dream – but incredibly tough – draw for their debut on the national stage.

Hellenic were impressive coming through the qualifiers in the Top End, with the ageless Helio Carvalho (who is 48) their leading scorer along the way.

He scored a hat-trick in the final to reach the Round of 32 and is sure to be someone the Wanderers will focus on in the build-up.

And what an introduction to Australian football it promises to be in Darwin for new Western Sydney boss Markus Babbel.

As someone who won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2001, Babbel is sure to take this competition seriously and won’t allow his side to take the part-timers from the Top End lightly.

 

[sydmariner]

https://www.theffacup.com.au/video/ffa-cup-reactions-round-32-draw

 

[sydmariner]

Glory boss excited by Victory challenge in FFA Cup Round of 32
The 4 big Round of 32 match-ups

READ: 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed

It's the first time Glory have been handed a home tie at this stage of the competition, in what will be a replay of the 2015 FFA Cup final.

"I'm delighted that we've been drawn at home first and foremost," Popovic said.

"It's exciting to be playing the reigning champions and the game will be a great test to see where we're at very early in our pre-season preparations.

"It's an exciting game that we're really looking forward to."

Tuesday's Round of 32 draw also featured two other WA clubs in the form of Armadale SC and Gwelup Croatia who were handed an away trip to Cairns FC and a home clash with Adelaide Comets respectively.

Here's how the draw went down at Glory HQ:



Glory already have a shared history with Victory in the FFA Cup.

The 2015 Final was won 2-0 by Victory at AAMI Park courtesy of first-half efforts from Oliver Bozanic and Besart Berisha.

The previous year, however, it was the men in purple who claimed the spoils, Andy Keogh (2), Danny De Silva and Nebojsa Marinkovic all finding the net in a dramatic 4-2 extra-time triumph at nib Stadium.

The Victory tie means that Glory has now drawn A-League opposition in the Round of 32 four times in the competition's five-year history, but the omens are encouraging as those three previous hurdles were all successfully negotiated.

 

[sydmariner]

Devonport Strikers are happy to take the “underdogs” tag for their Round of 32 FFA Cup clash against Victorian NPL outfit Northcote City.

In Tuesday’s draw for the Round of 32 of the competition, Tasmania’s sole representative were handed a tricky away trip.

READ: The 4 big Round of 32 match-ups

READ: 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed

While Northcote is struggling in the Victorian NPL, they will provide a stern test for Chris Gallo’s side.

“We are the underdogs, as I don’t think they will be expecting much from the Tasmanian team to be honest,” Gallo said.

“I think there can be more pressure playing at home in a game like this, so being away from home no-one will really be expecting that much from us, which will help.

Gallo added: “They [Northcote] are very good, they are a very strong side technically and tactically, but their pitch isn’t the best as well, so hopefully that can play to our advantage.

“I think we have shown our worth on the domestic stage and hopefully we can now show it on the national stage too.

“This will be a great stage for us to perform on and really show what we can do, and we won’t just be representing the Devonport City Strikers, we’ll be representing Tasmania as well.”More than 100 of the club’s players and staff gathered at their Valley Road base to watch the draw as excitement build about their shot on the national stage.

And in Brayden Mann, the Strikers have a player who knows all about the competition, heading into his fourth year in the FFA Cup.

While he was hoping to have a the tie in Tasmania, Mann said the added pressure on Northcote of being the home side could work in the Strikers’ favour.

“They are the home team and the pressure is on them now, and they will probably see us as a winnable game, so we need to make sure we go over there and give everything and put the pressure back on them,” Mann said.

“We have some experience of these big games, and I think that is important, but it will be about thriving in the moment and enjoying the occasion.”

 

[sydmariner]

https://www.theffacup.com.au/video/one-one-steve-corica-sydney-fc
https://www.theffacup.com.au/video/ffa-cup-round-32-explainer
https://www.theffacup.com.au/video/one-one-liam-bolland-avondale-fc

 

[sydmariner]

Road to the FFA Cup Round of 32: NSW clubs
The 4 big Round of 32 match-ups

READ: 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 draw revealed

No NSW club has ever made the semi-finals of the FFA Cup – could this year be the year?

Check out all five clubs’ road to the Round of 32.

APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS

It’s only the second time the Tigers have appeared in the Round of 32, and it despite some good results throughout the qualifying campaign it wasn’t exactly straightforward.

They entered at the fourth round of NSW qualifying and brushed away Fraser Park 9-1, and followed that up with a 4-0 win over Wollongong Olympic in the fifth round.

Their sixth-round opponents St George put up a stiff challenge but APIA again rose to the challenge and won 3-2.

Round seven posed what looked like the toughest challenge yet – Sydney Olympic. Two goals in the final 20 minutes helped secure APIA a 3-0 win, and their second Round of 32 berth.

Currently second in the NSW NPL, APIA is in form and flying high in the league. Their Round of 32 opponents are Port Melbourne Sharks, and an away trip to Victoria beckons.
BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES

It’s the first time Bonnyrigg has played in the FFA Cup Round of 32 since 2016, and only the second time in the competition’s short history that the Eagles have made it this far.

They began their campaign with a fairly straightforward win over Woongarrah Wildcats in the fourth round, triumphing 6-1 to book themselves a place in the fifth round.

Northern Tigers was next in line and the Eagles dispatched with them with a 3-1 victory, before an even tighter round six win over St George City FA – 1-0.

It all came down to round seven and NPL NSW 2 opponents Hills United. Two goals were just enough in the 2-1 win, which booked a spot in the Round of 32.

At the wrong end of the NPL NSW ladder, the Cup is a chance for Bonnyrigg to put some pride back into their season and maybe a much-needed boost. It won’t be easy though – a tough home match against Hakoah East Sydney FC beckons.
HAKOAH EAST SYDNEY FC

A third appearance for Hakoah in the round of 32, who have now qualified two years running. Their other appearance came back in 2014 – but can they better last year’s run to the round of 16?

The NPL NSW club entered the competition in the fourth round, with what was a comfortable enough win – 3-1 over Canterbury Bankstown to set up a tough fifth round match against Sutherland Sharks.

Triumph they did over their NPL NSW opponents, with a 2-0 win which locked in a slightly easier round six clash with NPL2 side Mounties Wanderers.

Hakoah dispatched Mounties 2-0 before a 4-0 round seven win over a plucky Tarrawanna Blueys set the NPL NSW side on a course for the round of 32.

A season which has them hovering around the NPL NSW top five could be mightily improved by a cup run. There’s not much separating them and Round of 32 opponents Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the league – Hakoah are on the road in the cup.

It's not quite Melbourne City, but Hakoah would be wise to be wary of their NPL NSW opponents in the Cup.
MARCONI STALLIONS

One of Australia’s biggest clubs which has produced some of the all-time great Caltex Socceroos, incredibly it’s just Marconi’s second ever appearance at the round of 32 stage. Their first was in 2016.

It was a relatively tough fourth round draw to kick off their cup run, with NPL NSW 2 side Parramatta FC their opponents. A tight 2-1 win over enough to edge through to the next round.

A 4-2 win over Gladesville Ravens in the fifth round was backed up by an even more impressive 4-1 win over SD Raiders FC in the sixth round to set up what seemed a straightforward affair against NPL NSW 2 side GHFA Spirit FC.

It proved anything but – a hard-fought 2-1 win over GHFA booked Marconi a spot in the Round of 32.

They didn’t get past the first stage after qualifying for the Round of 32 back in 2016, and it’s just as tough an assignment this time around. The Stallions will travel to NPL Victoria side Avondale FC to fight it out for a spot in the next round.

ROCKDALE CITY SUNS

They were faced with one of the hardest cup runs of any side in New South Wales, but Rockdale persevered and fought hard in order to secure just their second appearance on the national stage.

A fourth-round match up with Glebe Wanderers resulted in a huge 12-0 win, with young striker Jonothon Grozdanovski scoring five goals in the rout.

A 3-0 win over Bankstown United followed in the fifth round to send them further through, but it is there that things started to get tricky.

Round six pitted Rockdale against Sydney United 58, but the Suns did just enough to claim a huge win over the NPL NSW high fliers to go onto the seventh round.

And things certainly did not get easier there – drawn against Blacktown City, a side which had qualified for the Round of 32 in every iteration of the FFA Cup.

It wasn’t to be five though – Rockdale emerged 3-2 winners.

As if the last two rounds weren’t hard enough, Rockdale was given no reprieve in the Round of 32. Reigning FFA Cup champions Sydney FC are their opponents in what will be a fierce local derby.

READ: Glory boss excited by Victory challenge

READ: Strikers happy to be outsiders against Northcote

Rockdale City Suns player-coach and former Sydney FC man Paul Reid said it would be the ‘biggest upset in FFA Cup history’ if his side beat Sydney.

“It’s a bit of a story. I would never have dreamed of it. I don’t know what the chances of us drawing each other were but I’m sure it was very minimal,” said Reid, speaking to The Leader.

“It’s what the cup is all about. A member federation club against a giant A-League team. It will be a great spectacle for the community.”