Matchday 3 of the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup features some intriguing fixtures with more places in the next round on the line on Thursday night.
Teams from the NPL competitions in Queensland and Victoria feature heavily while there are sides from the Northern Territory and New South Wales also in action.
Moreton Bay United FC v Heidelberg United FC
Date: Thursday 10 August 2023
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Wolter Park
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Moreton Bay United take on Heidelberg United at Wolter Park in the early kick-off on Thursday night.
NPL Queensland’s Moreton Bay have had a solid season in the league, currently occupying third position with three games to go.
The side also emphatically made their way through the early rounds of the cup showcasing free-flowing scoring form as well as a stout defensive record.
However, their recent form has been on a downward trend with the team winning only three of their last seven matches.
Heidelberg United are in a rut of their own having won none of their last seven games in the NPL Victoria.
Sitting in 10th, the Cup has provided a respite for the side in 2023 so Thursday offers them a chance to re-ignite their form for the final stanza of their season.
With both these teams struggling for results at the moment, this is a vital clash to get confidence back on track.
Melbourne Knights FC v Lions FC
Date: Thursday 10 August 2023
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Knights Stadium
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NPL Victoria side Melbourne Knights host Lions FC at Knights Stadium in an exciting matchup.
The Knights sit in fourth in their league having won 13 of their 24 games in 2023.
Despite not making the national round in the past two seasons, the Knights will aim to rekindle their history in the competition, last making the Round of 16 in 2016.
NPL Queensland’s Lions FC have also had some good times in the Cup making it through to the Round of 16 on three occasions.
The side also are also fourth in their league with a chance to finish higher up the table if they get on a good run of results to end the season.
Lions FC have been a force to be reckoned with so far in the Cup scoring at least six goals in three of their four preliminary encounters.
The team have struggled recently, though winning just one of their last five, scoring just five times in that run.
It’s hard to pick between these teams heading into Thursday, setting up a potentially thrilling game.
Hellenic Athletic Club v Inter Lions FC
Date: Thursday 10 August 2023
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Larrakia Park
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Northern Territory’s Hellenic Athletic Club face Inter Lions at Larrakia Park on a big occasion for the club.
This will be just the second time Hellenic have appeared in the national round of the Cup hoping to go further than they’ve ever gone before.
The side have had a stellar league campaign, leading by four points with six matches to play.
This has been coupled with a confident set of results on their way to the Round of 32 scoring six goals and conceding one in their two games.
Inter Lions made their way to the national round with a series of defensively resolute performances keeping three clean sheets in their preliminary run.
Most notably, they downed NPL NSW title-chasers Rockdale Ilinden in round seven.
The Football NSW League One team boast former A-League Men’s and Australia Cup winner Daniel Georgievski who has been instrumental in their run in the Cup.
This is poised as another hard-to-pick fixture with both teams demonstrating a lot of quality in 2023.
