It’s been a long time between drinks for local football fans, but after a forced hiatus of just over 18 months, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FFA Cup can once again resume an active position and take its rightful place in the Australian football calendar, albeit with a new set of pandemic parameters now put in place.
Football-starved fans and the FFA Cup tournament have had to endure countless delays, set-backs and postponements in its endeavour to complete the rescheduled Round 32 fixture list.
Lockdowns, border closures and COVID government restrictions have played havoc with the FFA Cup scheduling, but the FFA has worked diligently with the participating clubs to co-ordinate the completion of the fixtures, and at long last we seem to have broken through the inertia.
With government pandemic restrictions now lifting to some extent in Victoria and New South Wales, at least crowds will be permitted back into local football venues to watch their favourite team in action once again.
The big match atmosphere finally returns to Lakeside Stadium this Friday night in the shape of a much-anticipated FFA Cup clash between the reigning A-League champions, Melbourne City, and the ever-present, South Melbourne FC. Kick-off is at 7.30pm. Entry permitted only to the doubled vaccinated. Children under 16 are exempt. All patrons will be required to QR Code.
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South Melbourne coach Estaban Quintas will revel in the opportunity of pitting his tactical wits against quality opposition. It’s a big ask first up, but the Argentine brings a wealth of experience from Europe, having spent the bulk of his career in Spain, including stints with Atletico Madrid and various clubs in the Spanish Segunda Division.
Bradley Norton will skipper the Blues into battle and new shot-stopper signing from Bentleigh Greens, Javier Diaz Lopez, may well expect nothing less than a busy afternoon between the sticks.
In the opponent’s dugout, Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo will be no stranger to South Melbourne fans, who is fondly remember as a no-nonsense, rock-solid defender during his formative senior playing years at Lakeside, before plying his trade in the professional ranks of the UK with the likes of Hearts, Leicester City and Leeds United.
A former Soceroo, Kisnorbo has dispelled any doubts of his coaching prowess, and has proven he has the goods to make it as a manager in the cut-throat world of football, evident in transforming the under-achieving Melbourne City into a title-winning formidable force last season.
A prize of FFA Cup silverware wouldn’t go astray either in adding to his already collected A-League and WPL titles. If they can deliver and maintain the same level of form as last season, then who would put it past them?
In what seems like a lifetime ago now, it was season 2019 when the FFA Cup last ran its course, and Melbourne City picked up the runner-up medal that year, going down 4-0 in the final to a rampant Adelaide United.
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The boys from South Australia have become somewhat of an unofficial ‘Cup King’ in the modern era of Australia football and now aspire to write themselves into cup folklore with a hat-trick of FFA Cup winning campaigns and a fourth in total. A 2-1 victory over Sydney FC in the final of 2018 put the Hindmarsh outfit on the road to dominating the nation-wide cup competition to date.
The Reds have wasted no time in picking up where it left off and more recently navigated its way through a testing Round of 32 encounter back in September, dispatching the Greek-backed Western Australian outfit, Floreat Athena, 1-0.
Sydney Olympic will welcome Sydney FC to the Belmore Sports Ground, where a big home crowd is anticipated. The NPL side will pin its hopes on new star signing for the 2022 season, Roy O’Donovan, to help cause a cup upset. The Irish striker has made over 125 A-League appearances with the Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners, and a baptism of fire awaits against a few familiar faces.
With the A-league season set to commence on Friday 19 November, and their respective pre-season preparations in full swing, the FFA Cup ties may well be a bit beyond some of the realistic aspirations of the NPL clubs, not to mention match fitness and stamina levels, so expect the favourites to come out on top in the scoreboard stakes.
The same may not be said for the all-NPL mid-week tie between Hume City and Pot Melbourne Sharks. Home ground advantage might tip the balance in Hume’s favour, but it’s a match that is definitely up for grabs. Both sides will fancy their chances and penalties would not be such a far-fetched conclusion. Expect cramps to be the order of the day.
But the perspective is just as much, if not more, about the actual occasion rather than the contest itself, which will still rank high in the scales of anticipation for any normal football fan this coming weekend.
Especially after what the local game has endured over the past 18 months, football fans will be giddy at the thought of finally being allowed to attend a local football match.
For now, it’s as good as it gets, particularly in Victoria, where football fans have been starved of action and will be able to look forward to gracing the terraces at long last.
Free to socialise and interact. Free to cheer and chant and connect with fellow supporters once again. Along with playgrounds and other healthy activities, football was deemed out-of-bounds for a period far beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. A cup competition is part of the essence of football, just as the ritual of going to a match is part of the fabric of society. Welcome back.
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FFA Cup 2021 Round of 32
Wednesday, 10 November
Hume City FC (VIC) v Port Melbourne Sharks SC (VIC)
ABD Stadium, Broadmeadows, VIC 7:30pm
Wednesday, 10 November
Broadmeadow Magic FC (NSW) v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle West, NSW 7:30pm
Friday, 12 November
South Melbourne FC (VIC) v Melbourne City FC
Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park, VIC 7:30pm
Saturday, 13 November*
Blacktown City FC (NSW) v Central Coast Mariners
Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee, NSW 5:00pm
Saturday, 13 November
Newcastle Olympic FC (NSW) v Macarthur FC
No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle West, NSW 6:00pm
Wednesday, 24 November
Tigers FC (ACT) v APIA Leichhardt (NSW)
Viking Park, Wanniassa, ACT 7:30pm
Wednesday, 24 November
Sydney Olympic FC (NSW) v Sydney FC
Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore, NSW 7:30pm