FFA Cup Preview: Victory, City wary of underdogs

Melbourne Victory FFA Cup 2014
Balmain Tigers v Melbourne Victory

A tie of truly David v Goliath proportions as part-timers Balmain Tigers take on the behemoth that is Melbourne Victory – the reigning A-League champions and one of the biggest clubs in Australia. Leichhardt Oval will be rocking as this tight-knit group of students, plumbers and office workers from the third tier of NSW football aim to bring down top flight royalty. While stopping the likes of Besart Berisha, Guilherme Finkler and co will be an unenviable task, the Tigers won't die wondering. Could an FFA Cup boilover of epic proportions unfold live on Match Day Two? Surely not…

Edgeworth FC v Melbourne City FC 

The home side, Northern NSW NPL leaders Edgeworth FC, are at Magic Park for a daunting clash against financial powerhouse Melbourne City FC -  part of the global City Football Group. The A-League side warmed up for this with a friendly behind closed doors against the Young Socceroos. Prior to that they staged a friendly with ‘sister’ club Manchester City where they more than matched the Premier League giants in a 1-0 loss on the Gold Coast. But the Eagles have shown an eye for goal in their domestic competition where they are sitting on top of the ladder (and are yet to draw this season). This should be another fascinating battle as NNSW meets Victoria for a spot in the last 16. 

Gungahlin United v Sydney Olympic

The capital is back on the national stage as local club Gungahlin United make their Westfield FFA Cup round of 32 debut. Standing in their way is NSW NPL 1 side Sydney Olympic – a club with lofty ambitions and full of confidence after blasting NPL NSW league leaders Blacktown City 4-0 on the weekend. The ex-NSL club made the last 16 in 2014 – beaten by eventual semi-finalists Bentleigh Greens – and are striving to make an impact on the national stage again. But getting a result on a cold winter night in Canberra is easier said than done, especially against a Gungahlin outfit which has made a habit of defying the odds under wily former NSL defender-turned-coach Claudio Canosa.

Sydney United 58 v South Hobart

With two canny coaches in Mark Rudan and South Hobart’s Ken Morton, this looms as the hardest clash to pick on Match Day Two. Though what we are to make of United’s calamitous 5-0 loss to Manly on the weekend in the NPL NSW, it’s hard to know. Was the team's collective mind elsewhere perhaps? The dominant Tassie club meanwhile fell at the first hurdle in 2014 but return to the national stage wiser for last year’s experience. Two clubs with previous experience in this competition, will United’s talent-laden squad prevail or can South Hobart’s free-scoring approach bear fruit at the Sydney United Sports Centre?
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