Round 2 Review – FFA Cup
The excitement of the prestigious FFA Cup is back!
Australia’s premier football cup knockout tournament – the FFA Cup – recently got underway, as it begins its journey towards a crescendo towards the back end of this calendar year.
Any football team in the country can enter, and entries are on the increase once more as every minnow dreams of a lucrative Cup match against an NPL team, or better still, an A League side.
The Cup brings a certain appeal of entertainment, of thrills and spills, of ever changing formations, and of throw-caution-to-the-wind strategies as teams across the nation fight for survival.
You see, each and every match has to be decided on the day – if it finishes in a stalemate after ninety minutes, then extra time will be played. If it is still all square, then a penalty shoot out will decide who proceeds to the next round and who goes home.
So on any given day, anyone can beat anyone – if you show up and your opponent doesn’t, if the bounce of the ball goes your way, if an error causes a goal or two, or if luck is on your side – then it could very well be your day, and your Cup run begins.
This week we take a look at what happened in Round Two of the 2018 FFA Cup, where extra time and penalties were in fact required to sort out some matches, whilst in other games, a couple of teams hit double figures.
Illawarra Premier League side, Bulli FC, had a great run last season, eventually losing out to NPL Men’s side, Blacktown City. This time around Bulli FC commenced with a victory, winning on the road by overcoming Coogee Utd FC 2-1 at Moore Park, with goals from Dylan Lewis and Mitch Del Turco, whilst Paul Cummins scored Coogee’s lone reply.
In a tight affair at Heffron Park, Glebe Wanderers FC edged out Yagoona Lions 2-1, with goals from Barry Warren and Shane Jennings, whilst Kuzmanovski replied for Yagoona.
Penrith Rovers FC made light work of Coledale Waves at Elizabeth Park, winning 4-0 in a canter. The hero for Penrith was Rhys Kennedy who nabbed a hat-trick, whilst Shaun Barthwick netted the other goal for Rovers as they move in Round Three of this year’s Cup.
In a closely fought match at Ilinden Sports Centre, Carlton Rovers overcame fierce resistance from Arncliffe Aurora FC to prevail in a five goal thriller. Ali Chahine grabbed a double for Arncliffe, but Mathew Ali, Remy Williams and Michael Gambrellis steered Carlton Rovers FC to a 3-2 victory with a goal apiece.
It took penalties to separate Central Sydney Wolves and Winston Hills FC at Lockwood Park in Chullora, after the teams were locked at 3-3 at the end of extra time. Ahmad Daghaghele scored a double for the Wolves, and Abbas Mohamaddian grabbed their third goal, whilst the scorers for Hills were Fabian Ehrman, Daniel Stenglin and Sam Beesley. The Wolves take their place in Round Three of the Cup courtesy of a 5-4 win on penalties.
West Ryde Rovers SC beat Baulkham Hills 2-1 in a closely fought battle at Pennant Hills Park. Jake Stewart and Shane Cox did the honours for Rovers, who survived the late sending off of Michael Zappia to record the triumph. Matt Amoroso scored for Hills in reply.
Pennant Hills SC racked up the biggest result of the round at Wentworth Park when they annihilated Balmain & Districts FC to the tune of 14-0, after leading 8-0 at the break. Harrison Browne and Scott Brown both returned hat-tricks, whilst there were braces for each of William Smith and Jordan Stenning. Rhys Bateman, Luke Currie, Brendan Hoyer, and Brent Rogers all grabbed singles to complete the rout.
Sydney Northwest FC came from 0-1 down at half time to defeat Coptic United FC 2-1 at Valentine Sports Park. Peter Mikhail put Coptic in front, but goals from Andrew Alexander and Michael Lokolomba gave Northwest victory and passage into the FFA Cup Third Round.
Thomas Cross was the solitary goal scorer at Leeton Oval, providing the win for the travelling North Ryde SC against a spirited Leeton United SC.
Despite being reduced to ten men with the 80th minute sending off of Paul Rawlings, Randwick City FC held off Lokomotiv Cove SC to win 3-2 at Heffron Park. Matthew Bannisteck was Randwick’s hero with a hat-trick, whilst the Cove responded with goals to Kieran Burke and Paul Manley.
After taking a first half 5-0 lead at Valentine Sports Park, Wollongong Olympic FC kept their foot on the gas by trouncing Norwest SC 13-0. Yusuke Ueda helped himself to five goals on the night, with Jack Balmforth grabbing four goals of his own. Robbie Gaudiosi scored a brace, with David Hartis also finding the net as Olympic moved easily in to Round Three of this year’s tournament.
Extra time was needed to separate Revesby Rovers and White City SC at Lockwood Park, with Rovers prevailing 2-1 in a nail biter. Haisam Mohri and Robert Hickman grabbed to goals to send Revesby in to the next round, with Milenko Divganovic replying for White City.
Hurstville Glory beat Kariong United FC 5-4 in a great game for the neutral, after leading 2-1 at the break. There were nine different scorers in the match as Glory took their place in the next round of the 2018 FFA Cup. The Glory were simply all heart as goals from Gabby Rodriguez, Tony Mekhaeil, Adrian Lara, Steve Tziotis and Cam Bell all scored for the boys from the St George Football Association. The talking point of the game however belonged to Glory keeper Nick Kipriotis who pulled off a stunning penalty save in the first period of extra time that sparked the energy for the Hurstville side to prevail in a stunner of a match.
Jai Kelly sent The Ponds FC tumbling out of this year’s tournament, scoring the solitary goal for Toukley Gorokan FC to record a 1-0 win at Jonas Bradley Park.
Wyoming Tigers FC defeated Tumut Eagles at Bull Paddock by 2-0, with the goals coming from Jamie McLafferty and Ben Waugh.
Kane Woolston helped himself to a hatrick as he helped steer Woongarrah Wildcats FC to a 4-2 win over Phoenix FC at Pluim Park.
Doonside Hawks SC managed an upset of sorts against Illawarra Premier League side, Wollongong United FC, beating them 2-1 at Blacktown Football Park. United have been strong performers in this competition in recent years, but were eliminated in the second round by a determined Doonside outfit.
Port Kembla FC made it through to Round Three without kicking a ball, courtesy of a forfeit from Auburn FC, whilst Revesby Workers FC trounced Ararat FC 4-1 at Peel Park in Gladesville.
In other Round Two matches, North Sydney United smacked Parklea SFC 5-1 at Blacktown Football Park, whilst at Summerhayes Park, Blue Mountains FC thumped Mt Annan Mustangs FC by 5-1, and Glenmore Park FC lost out to St Patricks FC 1-2.
Valentine Sports Park played host to a heap of matches, namely Glebe Gorillas accounting for Sydney Dragons FC 5-2, Abbotsford Juniors FC winning over Sydney Rangers 3-0, Chatswood Rangers FC beating The Entrance Bateau Bay SC 3-1, and Harrington United FC knocking Parramatta City out by 3-1, despite United being reduced to nine men.
In the final matches of this year’s Round Two, Waverley Old Boys FC smacked Hornsby Heights FC 6-1 at Waverley Park, Menai Hawks FC lost to Cronulla Seagulls FC 0-1 at Kareela Oval, Putney Rangers SC lost out to East Gosford FC by 0-1 at ELS Hall Park, Sydney CBD FC defeated Strathfield FC 2-1 after extra time at Heffron Park, and Kirrawee Kangaroos triumphed over North Epping Rangers 3-0 at Seymour Shaw Park.
For more info on the Round FFA Cup results click here
