Western Sydney Wanderers take part in the Australia Cup Final Rounds Playoffs for the first time when they host Brisbane Roar at Wanderers Football Park on Friday night (7:30pm KO).
After finishing the 2021/22 Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s regular season in tenth position the Wanderers will face eleventh place finishers Brisbane Roar for a spot in the Round of 32.
The Wanderers have competed in every edition of the Australia Cup, with Semi Final appearances in 2017 & 2018 their best ever finishes in the competition.
The Wanderers first outing in the cup was not a happy one, they became the first A-League side to be beaten by NPL opposition going down 1-0 to Adelaide City courtesy of a Thomas Love goal.
In 2015 the Wanderers picked up their first win in the competition, defeating Brisbane Roar thanks to a goal from Gol Gol Mehbratu in the Round of 32.
Tony Popovic’s side would go on to defeat Palm Beach 2-0 in the Round of 16 before bowing out in the Quarter Finals in a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of eventual finalists Perth Glory.
Western Sydney would again reach the Quarter Finals in 2016, defeating Wellington Phoenix and Edgeworth Eagles on their way to the last eight where they were beaten 4-1 by Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
In 2017 the Wanderers made the first of their two Semi Final appearances, beating Wellington Phoenix 1-0 after extra time, Bentleigh Greens 4-0 and Blacktown City on penalties to reach the final four where they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Adelaide United.
The Wanderers again reached the Semi Finals in 2018 – defeating Hellenic Athletic 4-3 thanks to a 92nd minute Roly Bonevacia winner in the Round of 32 before getting past Bonnyrigg White Eagles with a 2-1 win in the Round of 16.
Goals from Oriol Riera and Roly Bonevacia saw the Wanderers exact Quarter Final revenge on Melbourne City with a 2-1 win after losing to the same opposition in the last eight two seasons earlier.
For the second season running the Wanderers cup run came to an end at the Semi Final stage, this time bowing out with a 3-0 loss to cross-town rivals Sydney FC.
In 2019 victories over Perth Glory and Sydney United saw Western Sydney Wanderers reach the Quarter Finals were they were beaten 4-0 by Melbourne City in what was the third time in four years the two sides had met at that stage of the competition.
In their most recent cup campaign Wanderers defeated Broadmeadow Magic 3-0 on the road in the Round of 32 before being dumped out of the cup by NPL opposition for the second time in a 2-1 loss at the hands of APIA Leichhardt.
Western Sydney will aim to compete in the Australia Cup Final Rounds for the eighth time with a win against Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
Every match in the Australia Cup 2022 – including this week’s Final Rounds Playoffs – will be broadcast live and free across the nation on Network 10 via 10Play.
Australia Cup Final Rounds Playoffs
Friday 13 May, 7.30pm AEST
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar
Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Ticket Details: Click Here
Broadcast: 10Play
