Thursday night features some mouth-watering matchups in the quarter-finals of the Australia Cup as the competition nears its business end.
It’s all to play for as South Australia’s only quarter-final entrant look to cause an upset while two NPL Victoria teams go head-to-head.
MetroStars v Melbourne City FC
Date: Thursday 14 September 20232
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: T.K. Shutter Reserve
South Australia’s last representatives MetroStars host Melbourne City at T.K Shutter Reserve, eager to continue their fantastic season.
The NPL SA premiers were knocked out of the finals series, losing 3-0 at home in the second leg of the semi-final.
They’ll hope they can get their home ground back to the fortress it has been in 2023 against City, being defeated just three times all year.
The side snatched their place in the quarter-finals of the Cup courtesy of Ren Nagamatsu’s stoppage-time winner against Inter Lions.
Melbourne City put in a solid display in their Round of 16 tie, downing Wellington Phoenix 3-0.
Tolgay Arslan opened the scoring before Jamie Maclaren bagged a quickfire double late in the second half.
City have scored six goals in their two Cup fixtures this season, with Arslan scoring three of them in what has been a great start to life at the club for the midfielder.
However, MetroStars have defended well in the Cup, conceding three goals in six matches, and had the best defensive record across the NPL SA regular season.
T.K. Shutter Reserve will be bouncing on Thursday night for a thrilling fixture where an upset could be on the cards.
Melbourne Knights FC v Heidelberg United FC
Date: Thursday 14 September 2023
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Knights Stadium
Melbourne Knights take on Heidelberg United at Knights Stadium in an all-NPL Victoria battle for a place in the semi-finals.
Both sides claimed a win in this year’s NPL competition, with the Knights emphatically winning 5-0 early on before United got up 3-2 a few weeks ago.
The Knights went out of the NPL Victoria finals series at the semi-final stage following a 1-0 loss to Avondale FC.
They’ve put in two solid showings in the Cup latter rounds, backing up a 4-1 victory over Queensland Lions with a 2-0 win against Campbellton City in the Round of 16.
Mohammed Sumaoro and Mitchell Hore each scored either side of halftime in a dominant performance from the hosts.
Knights Stadium has proven a difficult place to come for teams in the Cup, and the Knights will hope for a similar outcome on Thursday.
United have contrastingly produced faultless performances away in the Cup, winning both their encounters in the national round 3-0.
The side most recently dispatched Mount Druitt Town Rangers in the Round of 16, with Kaine Sheppard, Eoin Ashton and Aamir Abdallah doing the damage.
Heidelberg have finished 2023 in great form, coming into this one off the back of five straight wins, setting up an exciting clash on Thursday night.
All Australia Cup 2023 matches are live and free on 10 Play.
