Australia Cup 2023

[RB]

The draw for the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup - the tenth edition of the tournament - has been conducted.

Adelaide United and Metrostars have fairly favourable match-ups. Campbelltown City will be playing against an A-League team, presumably out at Newton. I'm not sure where Metrostars are likely to play their game - hopefully not at the Gepps Cross Ditch.

The all-A-League match-ups are:
Sydney v Central Coast
Melbourne Victory/Newcastle United v Brisbane

The A-League-local club matches are:
Peninsula Power (Qld.) v Wellington
Edgeworth (Nth. NSW) v Western
Oakleigh (Vic.) v Melbourne City
Campbelltown City (SA) v Perth/Macarthur
Northcote City* (Vic.) v Adelaide United
Floreat Athena (WA) v Western Sydney

The all-local club matches are:
Gold Coast Knights v Devonport City (Tas.)
Mt. Druitt Town (NSW) v Canberra Croatia
Metrostars (SA) v Inglewood United (WA)
Moreton Bay United (Qld.) v Heidelberg United (Vic.)
Goulburn Valley** (Vic.) v APIA Leichhardt (NSW)
Darwin Hellenic v Inter Lions* (NSW)
Melbourne Knights v Brisbane Lions
Broadmeadow Magic (Nth. NSW) v Sydney United

* = from the second tier in state soccer
** from the third tier in state soccer

The playoffs for a spot in the Round of 32 between Newcastle United and Melbourne Victory, and Perth and Macarthur will be played in Darwin next month.

The Round of 32 will be played in August.

[RB]

Metrostars' clash with Inglewood United of WA will be played at Klemzig at 7 p.m. on Friday 4 August.

Campbelltown City's game versus A-League opposition in either Perth or Macarthur will be played at their fantastic ground at Newton at 7 p.m. on Monday 14 August.

For some reason the rocket surgeons who put together the fixture have Adelaide United playing (away in Melbourne) at the same time as the Campbelltown game.

No ticketing details yet.

[RB]

Metrostars were a class above relegated-threatened WA side Inglewood United last night as the Round of 32 got underway at Klemzig. Fabien Barberio wound back the clock with a mid-air kick in Metro's 5-0 victory. The Phoenix narrowly avoided losing to a Brisbane team.

Mt. Druitt Town (NSW) 3-1 Canberra Croatia - crowd 594
Metrostars (SA) 5-0 Inglewood United (WA) - crowd 857
Peninsula Power (Qld.) 1-2 Wellington (AET) - crowd 1,000
Broadmeadow Magic (Nth. NSW) 2-4 Sydney United - crowd 1,603

The next round of games will be played on Wednesday.

[Wedgie]

Crazy game at Wollongong. Mariners with only 4 championship players in their starting 11 get the first goal, disallowed, no VAR and video replay shows its clearly a goal.
Sydney get next 2 goals.
Mariners come back and get the next 3 goals.
2 minutes of time on in extra time and Sydney score the equaliser in the 3rd minute.

22 penalties taken and it comes down to the keepers and the dancing wiggle beats the teenager and Sydney go through.

[RB]

More results from the Round of 32:

Goulburn Valley** (Vic.) 1-4 APIA Leichhardt (NSW) - crowd 1,526
Gold Coast Knights 1-0 Devonport City (Tas.) - crowd 720
Edgeworth (Nth. NSW) 0-4 Western - crowd 1,275
Floreat Athena (WA) 1-6 Western Sydney - crowd 723
Darwin Hellenic 0-6 Inter Lions* (NSW) - crowd 663
Melbourne Knights 4-1 Brisbane Lions - crowd 583
Moreton Bay United (Qld.) 0-3 Heidelberg United (Vic.) - crowd 907
Sydney 3-3 Central Coast (AET - Sydney won 10-9 on pens) - crowd 2,540
Oakleigh (Vic.) 2-3 Melbourne City - crowd 2,652

* = from the second tier in state soccer
** from the third tier in state soccer

Melbourne City were very lucky to go through against Oakleigh, benefitting from two penalties and a stoppage-time winner.

There've been some disappointing crowds so far. In particular Floreat and the Melbourne Knights. Hopefully it improves in the Round of 16.

The remaining three matches in the Round of 32 will be played tonight, including Campbelltown City playing hosting to reigning champions Macarthur, and Adelaide United travelling to Melbourne to take on Northcote City.

[Hector]

Just drove past Campbelltown and looks like they're expecting a fair crowd

[RB]

Decent crowd. Probably not as many though as when they played Melbourne City here about 2019-ish.

Campbelltown City doing well, up 1-0 at HT.

Adelaide United have the lead in their game as well.

[Jim05]

Campbelltown 2-0 up

[RB]

Campbelltown City secured the first "cupset" by an SA team since 2014 with a 2-1 win over reigning champions Macarthur at Newton this evening, a stoppage time goal to Rose making it close. Adelaide United also won which means that all three South Australian teams progress to the Round of 16.

The final matches in the Round of 32 were:

Campbelltown City (SA) 2-1 Macarthur - crowd 947
Northcote City* (Vic.) 0-2 Adelaide United - crowd 1,652
Newcastle United 2-3 Brisbane (AET) - crowd 2,763

* = from the second tier in state soccer

The Round of 16 draw has been conducted. Metrostars have another favourable match-up at home, against a team from the second div in Sydney. Campbelltown City play away, as do Adelaide United in a very tricky match-up against Wanderers.

The all-A-League match-ups are:
Western Sydney v Adelaide United
Melbourne City v Wellington

The A-League-local club matches are:
Gold Coast Knights v Western
APIA Leichhardt (NSW) v Sydney
Sydney United v Brisbane

The all-local club matches are:
Mt. Druitt Town (NSW) v Heidelberg United (Vic.)
Melbourne Knights v Campbelltown City (SA)
Metrostars (SA) v Inter Lions* (NSW)

* = from the second tier in state soccer

The Round of 16 ties will be played later this month.

[Hector]

What resources would a club like Campbelltown or Metrostars have to travel interstate for these matches? Do they have to cover all the costs or do they get assistance from the FFA?

[RB]

The FA in their wisdom has scheduled all three South Australian teams at the same time - Tuesday 29 August at 7 p.m. our time.

Metrostars' game is again at TK Shutter Reserve, Klemzig. Campbelltown City are in Melbourne and Adelaide United take on the Wanderers at Marconi Stadium - the first time they've played there since the NSL days in 2003.

[Dinglinga75]

What resources would a club like Campbelltown or Metrostars have to travel interstate for these matches? Do they have to cover all the costs or do they get assistance from the FFA?

20-24 members are covered by FFA for travel costs ( Flights / Accomodation)

To host a Australia Cup fixture is about $15,000 ..

[RB]

A couple of Round of 16 ties were played over the weekend. The defending champions, Sydney United, are OUT.

Sydney United 0-5 Brisbane - crowd 1,050
Melbourne City 3-0 Wellington - crowd 1,153

The Sydney United crowd in particular was disappointing given it appeared to be a fine day. Having said that, the crowd looked way bigger than 1k - maybe some fence hoppers?

The remaining games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday night.

[Jim05]

A couple of Round of 16 ties were played over the weekend. The defending champions, Sydney United, are OUT.

Sydney United 0-5 Brisbane - crowd 1,050
Melbourne City 3-0 Wellington - crowd 1,153

The Sydney United crowd in particular was disappointing given it appeared to be a fine day. Having said that, the crowd looked way bigger than 1k - maybe some fence hoppers?

The remaining games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Sydney United were runners up.
MacArthur won it last year and were knocked out of this years event by Campbelltown recently

[RB]

Hmm so they were. And it looks as though I even referred to Macarthur as reigning champions on here two weeks ago. Dementia must be setting in.

[Wedgie]

Yeah, just had to see who was in the AFC Cup with the Mariners to remember who won last year. Its the only way I found out who did as it really is a nothing cup.

[Brodlach]

Reds currently down 3-0

[RB]

Metrostars locked in a tight battle at Klemzig. The continental sausages went down well too.

[Jim05]

Reds currently down 3-0

5-0 now with 30 minutes to go.
Defensive aspect is amateurish at best

[Dinglinga75]

The Metro Venga Bus rolls into the final 8