For the first time in three years, Melbourne Victory are in the Australia Cup Round of 16. The last time they got that far, they went all the way, and they’ll be hungry to do it again—but before they can dream of trophies, they’ve got to take care of North West Sydney Spirit FC, a side fresh off their first cup victory who’d love the opportunity to truly put themselves on the national map. Before this duel kicks off at Christie Park, let’s go over what they did to make it here and consider how either side could claim a spot in the quarter-finals.
Spirit topple Tasmanians After making it to the national rounds for the second time in three years, NWS Spirit found themselves hosting Glenorchy Knights, the Milan Lakoseljac Cup winners who came to Sydney carrying the hopes of both Tasmania and the Croatian diaspora on their backs. The hosts got the early edge, making multiple serious challenges before the Knights could even get the shot off, and that paid dividends in the 27th minute, when Knights keeper Angus Burdon got a touch on it, but Michael Konestabo swooped in at the other post and tapped it in right at the goal line to put the Spirit in front. A few minutes later, the Koalas doubled their advantage when Jacob Chidiac and Richard Darko pulled off a beautiful two-man counter down the left side, ending with Darko’s flourish of a strike and setting the eventual terms for half-time.
Spirit’s on ???? and through the Round of 32 at just their second attempt! @nwsspiritfc sparkled ????✨ in a 3-0 win over Glenorchy Knights on Wednesday night to book their place in the last 16. #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.
com/x32PiEfM36 Upon returning from the break, the Knights’ quiet attack woke up somewhat, taking seven of their nine shots on the day in the second half. Three of those came in one big barrage, which looked multiple times like it might go in, but Christopher Marques and his front four held firm to avert the danger. A couple of minutes later, things turned the other way, as substitute Takeru Sugita couldn’t quite get his cross cleanly through traffic, but fellow winger Zachary Cianci cleaned up that mess and put it home.
The Spirit even threatened to make it four in the dying embers, but ultimately 3-0 did the job, ending the Apple Isle’s chances and giving NWS a historic first win in the Australia Cup. Win a Ziggy BBQ for Grand Final day, thanks to Barbeques Galore! Enter Here. Victory live up to name against Jaffas Melbourne Victory had a massive turnaround last year, but melted down in the grand final to blow their shot at the championship.
After months to stew in that frustration, they looked to take it all out on Lambton Jaffas. The hosts have a reputation as one of NPL Northern NSW’s best sides, winning the double last season, but the tide quickly turned against them when they gave away an early penalty shot. Keeper Ben Kennedy guessed right and blocked Bruno Fornaroli’s shot, but it was for naught, as the Uruguayan grabbed the rebound and scored anyway to give the Vuck the early lead.
That doubled in the 27th minute when Nishan Velupillay sent out an impressive through ball for 17-year-old Alex Lee, who chipped it over Kennedy’s head to score in his professional debut. Melbourne Victory’s Zinedine Machach celebrates with Bruno Fornaroli. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images) The Jaffas still had some fight in them, and Patrick Bond rifled off an impressive shot from distance to bring Lambton back within a goal.
But as the first half wound down, Velupillay came up big again, taking a Zinédine Machach pass on the counter and cashing it in with a deflected shot that Kennedy didn’t even try to stop, putting Melbourne back up two at the half. Not long into the second half, Velupillay would further cement himself as the man of the match by receiving a pass from Jordi Valadon and outmaneuvering a swarm of Jaffas defenders to score. With the young winger’s brace complete, Jaffas collapsed under the weight of crushing inevitability and dominant Melbourne possession, and the Dark Blues cruised into the next round.
More Football Fighting over the metronome: the keys to victory As you’d expect, Melbourne Victory enter this match as the favourites. They put on a dominant display last round, both in terms of goals scored and time in possession, and notably did so on the road, where they struggled throughout league play last year. Add in their recent pickup of striker Nikos Vergos, who brings experience from the Greek top flight and Spanish second tier, and there’s a chance the Vuck can blindside the Spirit and win this on the roster sheet.
Don’t discount the Spirit out of hand, though. They’ve shown what they can do when they dictate the tempo, they’ll have the crowd on their side, and while they may sit midtable in NPL New South Wales, the Koalas have repeatedly punched above their weight in cup play, including stopping the infamous Sydney United 58 from even making these national rounds. From their perspective, all this match really asks the Spirit is to do the same on a larger scale.
Sports opinion delivered daily It’s not quite the Big Blue, but there’s always an extra edge when clubs from Australia’s two biggest cities collide, and this should be no different..
