PREVIEW: Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 Matchday 1

Tim Gibson 1722233562,1722297795

The Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 gets underway on Tuesday night headlined by an Oakleigh Cannons versus Sydney FC cupset rematch, while O'Connor Knights make their debut against A-League Men opposition, Darwin Hearts make their Finals Rounds debut and some notable Member Federation clubs make their return.

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Moreton City Excelsior FC v Campbelltown City SC

Date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Time: 7:00pm AEST
Venue: Wolter Park
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The Round of 32 gets underway with Brisbane’s Moreton City Excelsior hosting Adelaide’s Campbelltown City at Wolter Park at 7:00pm AEST.

Moreton City Excelsior have had a history-making last 12 months.

The club is a merger between Albany Creek Excelsior and Moreton Bay United, making their appearance in this year’s Cup latter stages their first ever.

The Brisbane-based club are currently second in the NPL Men’s Queensland, having lost only two games this season.

Marquez Walters and Zachary Kierpal have led the way with goals for the side, with 32 goals between them in the NPL. 

The hosts' run to the Round of 32 included some thrilling attacking performances, including a 12-1 win over Springfield United.

Campbelltown City provided one of the shocks of last year’s competition, downing 2022 winners Macarthur FC 2-1 at this stage.

The side have had a strong season in the NPL Men’s South Australia, sitting third on the table, and they have proved their cup pedigree again as well.

Earlier this month, Campbelltown City claimed the Football SA Federation Cup with a 3-0 win over fellow Round of 32 participant Modbury Jets.

Mark Marino has been their main goal threat this season with 13 goals in the NPL Men’s SA and scored four goals in the Australia Cup 2024 Preliminary Rounds.

Their run to the Round of 32 included a couple of close calls before a 2-0 win over Adelaide Comets to make the Final Rounds.

These two teams are some of the best going around in the NPL competitions this year and have plenty of goals in them, setting up a potentially thrilling encounter to get the Round of 32 underway.

Oakleigh Cannons FC v Sydney FC

Date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Venue: Home of the Matildas
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Oakleigh Cannons will look to repeat the trick when they take on reigning Australia Cup holders Sydney FC at the Home of the Matildas.

The Cannons upset the Sky Blues in the Australia Cup 2022 Quarter Finals scoring twice in the first half to get past the Sky Blues 2-1.

Joe Guest was a big part of Oakleigh’s dream run to the quarter-finals two years ago and he has been having another strong campaign this year.

The attacking midfielder has scored 10 goals in 23 games in the NPL Men’s Victoria, while Alex Salmon has also been performing well with 13 goals this season.

After surviving a penalty shootout in Preliminary Round Four, they have racked up 11 goals in three matches.

Guest scored a brace, while Salmon grabbed one in their 3-1 Preliminary Round Seven victory over Avondale.

The Sky Blues will begin their Cup defence aiming to be just the second club to go back-to-back as they look to build up steam ahead of the A-League Men season.

 

A fourth-place finish, a an A-League Men Semi Final berth, and the 2023 Australia Cup made 2023/24 a strong season for the side, but that foundation creates expectations ahead of this season.

The 2022 defeat to Oakleigh remains one of the greatest Cupsets in the competition’s history, and another iteration of that would be rugged pill to swallow from a Sky Blues perspective.

Sydney have lost plenty of experience ahead of the season with Jack Rodwell, Robert Mak, and Luke Brattan all leaving.

Brazilian pair Fabio Gomes and Gabriel Lacerda left after their loans expired, while talented young defender/midfielder Jake Girdwood-Reich signed in Major League Soccer.

Apart from four teenagers signing from the youth academy, Moroccan midfielder Anas Ouahim is Sydney's only major signing so far.

A big crowd is expected at the Home of the Matildas in what is a highly anticipated rematch.

O’Connor Knights SC v Macarthur FC

Date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Time: 7:30 pm AEST
Venue: GIO Stadium
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Macarthur FC will visit O'Connor Knights at GIO Stadium, hoping to avoid another Round of 32 Cup exit at the hands of an National Premier Leagues side. 

The Bulls have experienced a major overhaul of their squad in the off-season with 13 departures.

The club have only brought in four players to replace what they have lost, but there have been a couple of quality pick-ups.

Experienced Sydney FC midfielder Luke Brattan will bolster the Bulls' midfield, while Chris Ikonomidis offers a new attacking option.

Macarthur finished last season’s A-League Men 2023/24 in the Finals Series after recovering from a Round of 32 Cupset at the hands of Campbelltown City in 2023.

The Bulls had lifted the trophy the previous year, so they will be looking to avenge the poor defence of their maiden silverware.

Tuesday night will be the Knights’ first appearance in the Final Rounds having demonstrating some exciting football along the way.

The side have contributed 15 goals so far in the Preliminary Rounds, including a 4-2 win over fellow NPL Men’s ACT powerhouses Monaro Panthers to lift Capital Football's Federation Cup and qualify for the Round of 32.

Michael Adams leads the line for O’Connor Knights and has scored 11 goals this season in the NPL, with three in his last two matches. 

Jackson Paesler is another player who has contributed goals to the Knights’ team, with seven from 13 games this campaign.

The Knights remain in the hunt for the NPL Men’s ACT title, currently occupying third position - five points away from league-leading Gungahlin United.

The hosts are in a good run of form at the moment and were involved in some late drama last weekend to snatch victory over the Panthers despite being behind in stoppage time.

Macarthur will be eager to rectify last season’s Cupset but O’Connor Knights have demonstrated a never-say-die attitude and will be tough opposition.

Darwin Hearts FC v Hume City SC

Date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Time: 7:00pm Local, 7:30pm AEST
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium
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Tuesday will be Darwin Hearts' first appearance in the Final Rounds after averaging three goals scored per game in the Preliminary Rounds.

They won all their games by at least a two-goal margin, including a 4-2 win over Verdi and a 3-1 win over Darwin Olympic.

The Hearts are currently second in the Football Northern Territory Men’s Premier League, with seven matches to play.

They share the goals around with Yadu Silwal and Niroj Shrestha, combining for seven goals.

While the team lost on Friday, they have otherwise been having a good year, sitting second on the table.

Hume City come into Tuesday’s game in the midst of a tense NPL Men’s Victoria battle.

While they are currently fourth, they are on the same points as two of the teams ahead of them and Heidelberg United are only two behind the pack.

Aamir Abdallah and Lloyd Isgrove have been two of the best goal scorers in the Victorian top flight, scoring 13 goals each.

City made light work of their Preliminary Rounds, with 19 goals scored across their four matches.

The club have some history in the Australia Cup as well, making the Semi Finals in 2015 and the Quarter Finals in 2019.

In their five previous trips to the Final Rounds, they have advanced past the Round of 32 on four occasions.

It would be a huge scalp for the Hearts to claim but Hume City will provide a stern test.