There were some strong performances from the A-Leagues teams, while the NPL New South Wales and Queensland front-runners advanced as well on Wednesday night in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
Western United and Western Sydney Wanderers booked their places in the Round of 16 with APIA Leichhardt and Gold Coast Knights also making their way through.
Edgeworth Eagles FC - 0
Western United FC - 4 (Noah BOTIC 20’, Michael RUHS 28’, Lachlan WALES 31’ 58’)
Western United brushed aside Edgeworth Eagles 4-0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval in a free-scoring display from the visitors en route to the Round of 16.
The side opened the scoring 20 minutes in when Noah Botic turned in Lachlan Wales’ right-sided cross, getting the promising striker off to the perfect start to his season.
Michael Ruhs finished off a lightning counterattack just eight minutes later before Wales bagged a goal of his own three minutes after that from close range.
Wales capitalised on a defensive error just before the hour mark to notch his second of the game and put the concluding touches on a fine night for Western United.
Goulburn Valley Suns FC - 1 (Russell CURRIE 78’)
APIA Leichhardt FC - 4 (Jack STEWART 13’ 88’, Jason ROMERO 60’ 64’)
APIA Leichhardt overcame Goulburn Valley Suns 4-1 in a physical battle at John McEwan Oval to continue their run in the Cup.
APIA made a swift impression with star man Jack Stewart dispatching an accurate penalty into the bottom right corner within 15 minutes.
Jason Romero slid home two neat finishes around an hour in which were his first goals for the club since returning from his A-Leagues stint earlier in the year.
Golden Valley favourite Russel Currie rolled in a narrow-angled finish for the hosts with a little over 10 minutes to play.
However, with two regular minutes to go, Stewart made it brace with a first-time effort from the right of the box to stamp out any chance of a comeback for the Suns.
Gold Coast Knights FC - 1 (Austin LUDWIK 54’)
Devonport City Strikers FC - 0
Gold Coast Knights edged past Devonport City Strikers 1-0 at Croatian Sports Centre in the tightest match of the night.
The hosts took the lead early in the second period after a goalless first half courtesy of captain Austin Ludwik’s glancing header from a right-sided corner.
The Knights saw out the remaining minutes to equal their best run in the Australia Cup.
Floreat Athena FC 1 (Nicholas AMBROGIO 53’)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC - 6 (Lachlan BROOK 3’ 20’ 77’ 83’ 90+3’, Brandon BORRELLO 20’)
A Lachlan Brook five-star performance on debut guided Western Sydney Wanderers to a 6-1 win against Floreat Athena at Kingsway Reserve.
Brook picked up his first only three minutes in, converting a rebounded shot before the Wanderers fired home a quick-fire double in the 20th minute.
Milos Ninkovic was at the heart of both goals after re-signing for the club earlier in the week, assisting Brook’s second and then playing it through for Brandon Borrello to get in on the action.
Nicholas Ambrogio clawed a goal back for Athena at the start of the second half, but Brook secured his hat-trick for Western Sydney 77 minutes in.
The young attacker wasn’t done yet, sweetly striking one from outside the box and then steering home another in the final stages to add the final gloss for the Wanderers.
The 22-year-old became the first player in the modern era of the tournament to score five goals in an Australia Cup Final Rounds match.
