Victoria’s three remaining NPL teams have dominated the FFA Cup’s Round of 16 all-stars team, taking up 10 of the 11 possible spots on offer.
Representatives were selected by the FFA from the triumphant trio of Heidelberg United, Hume City and Oakleigh Cannons, who all progressed to quarter finals, commencing on August 22.
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Heidelberg duo Dan Heffernan – now at Central Coast – and Kaine Sheppard led the forward line, with both being a constant threat against Sydney United.
Heffernan opened the scoring in the first minute of Heidelberg’s 2-0 win, while Sheppard came inches away from scoring a wonder free kick, rattling the crossbar.
Marcus Schroen, Theo Markelis, Jai Ingham and Chris Oldfield were Hume City’s representatives from their 3-1 victory over Sydney Olympic.
The trio of Schroen, Ingam and Markelis scored a goal each, proving a real handful in the front third for Olympic’s defenders.
Meanwhile, Oldfield was a commanding presence between the sticks, continuing on his good late-season form that included a quartet of penalty saves against Melbourne Knights.
Dean Piemonte, Jake McLean, Adam Le Cornu and Aron Wilford were selected from Oakleigh after the Cannons pipped a 1-0 away win over South Australia’s MetroStars.
In a performance led by the defensive rearguard, the discipline showed by the latter two helped the side keep an impressive clean sheet against the reigning national NPL champions, while the former two were impressive in midfield.
Arthur Papas was selected as the coach of the round, the mastermind of the smash-and-grab victory on the road.
Lions FC’s Tommy Jarrard was the only player chosen from interstate.
Hume City and Oakleigh face-off in the quarter-finals on August 22 at ABD Stadium, while Heidelberg host Melbourne City a week later at Olympic Village.