Midweek FFA Cup action in Victoria concluded with Hume City’s 4-0 win over Malvern City, following earlier wins by Green Gully and Bulleen Lions.
The Round 6 wins mean the trio are the first sides into the final eight of the Victorian stage – two more wins will take them to the national leg of the competition, where potential A-League opposition awaits – with five more fixtures yet to be played.
Regular goals throughout the contest ensured a fairly regulation win for Hume over the last remaining State League side.
Long-time servants Nick Hegarty and Shane Rexhepi combined to ease the nerves after 27 minutes when the former’s free kick met the latter for the opener.
In a repeat dose less than 10 minutes later, Rexhepi struck against to double the lead – a brace being a bit of a collector’s item for the centre-back.
Proceedings continued in the second half when Hernan Espindola capitalised on an opposition error to tee up Theo Markelis for a goal.
19-year-old Sam Beninato then capped off the win with the side’s fourth.
But while these stages of the competition are somewhat bread and butter for Hume, who are aiming to match last season’s exploits, it’s new territory for both Green Gully and Bulleen Lions, who now enter their best cup runs in its three-year history.
Both clubs lost at this stage in 2014, while Bulleen only managed a Round 4 exit to Richmond last year, and Gully lost to Kingston in Round 5.
Arthur Papas is proving to be a cup specialist, with his Gully side impressing in both league and cup in 2016.
After leading Oakleigh to a quarter final last year, and while the Cannons crashed out this year, Gully march on after seeing off last year’s fellow quarter-finalists Heidelberg United.
Gully went in with their own omissions as a day’s less recovery saw captain Daniel Jones miss out on the crucial tie, with Krousoratis again reverting to an off-the-bench role.
Heidelberg added former NPL goalkeeper Staurt Webster from Doveton via special consideration after a red card to Chris Theodoridis the game before, and backup keeper Pasquale Gioffre being cup-tied.
After a scoreless first half in which Heidelberg’s best chance fell to a saved effort from Harry Noon, it was recent super-sub Nick Krousoratis who made the difference, heading in Callum Richardson’s cross following a partially cleared corner.
Liam Boland sealed progression soon after, latching onto an Evan Christodoulou flick on from midfield to finish past Webster.
One former member of Heidelberg, goalkeeper Griffin McMaster, is still alive in the tournament after his Bulleen Lions saw off Avondale FC.
Much like their most recent encounter a couple of weeks ago, the 90 minutes ended in a scoreless stalemate.
With both sides tiring, Cardamone had a chance denied by Markogiannakis, before Matt Sanders hit the post for Avondale.
Bulleen looked good odds to progress in the 113th minute when Cardamone was felled in the box, allowing Matteo Ballan to step up and dispatch the penalty.
Yet Avondale hit back via Yitay Towns in the last minute of extra time.
It would only serve to delay Bulleen’s eventual progress, as Spase Dilevski hit the post and Nick Symeoy was denied by McMaster in the shootout as Bulleen won 4-2 on penalties.
FFA Cup action continues next week when Melbourne Knights host Dandenong City at Somers Street on Tuesday, while Bentleigh Greens fly up to the border to face Murray United on Wednesday.
Image: Wayne Unwin