State League Division 3 Champions Yarabi FC will play their maiden Australia Cup match when they meet Yoogali SC from the Capital League in the Capital Football Qualifying Rounds which commence this weekend.
The team that won the Division 3 title, and the Grand Final defeating ANU FC 2-1 with an 89th minute equaliser from Jack Busch and a Ned Bamblett extra-time winner, have entered the local Qualification campaign for the first time and have been handed a tough assignment.
Yoogali are only commencing on their second cup journey themselves, having missed last year’s edition, but having made the semi-finals in their inaugural shot at glory in 2021, going down to a late goal against eventual winners Tigers FC in the last four. Tigers were knocked out on the national stage by APIA Leichhardt.
The team from Griffith will be led by Darren Bailey, the Scottish left-back who was a former player at the club and has won the Capital Football Australia Cup Qualifying Final twice, once with Tigers FC in 2019 and again with Monaro Panthers last season.
The fixture will be screened live by BarTV Sports with commentary provided by Russ Gibbs and analysis from Tuggeranong United Head Coach Mitch Stevens.
Elsewhere, White Eagles and Weston-Molonglo FC meet at Melrose Synthetic with a place in Round 4 up for grabs. Woden Valley or Belnorth await the winners of this clash with Yarabi FC or Yoogali SC set for a last-16 clash with the winner of the University derby match between ANU FC and UC Stars.
Fixture Details:
Saturday, 25 February
Australia Cup Preliminary Round 3
White Eagles v Weston-Molonglo FC (Melrose Synthetic, 15:00)
Yarabi FC v Yoogali SC (Hawker Football Centre, 15:00) – LIVE ON BARTV SPORTS, Coverage begins at 14:55
