Photo: Mark Avellino
The FFA Cup Round 6 has been drawn for Victoria, with a number of potential all-NPL clashes await should the top-flight clubs win their Round 5 contests tonight.
It will also require the remaining state league clubs to each traverse a difficult set of fixtures, should they wish to progress to the quarter final of state qualification, with at least one NPL outfit set to contest in each fixture.
Five fixtures are to be played tonight and two tomorrow to conclude Round 5 of the cup, which will fully determine the clubs involved in Round 6. The draw is as follows:
NPL ladder leaders Bentleigh Greens have been drawn arguably the easiest fixture of the round, with a guaranteed home game against State League opposition to come. The winner of State League 4 North’s RMIT FC – who earned a reprieve despite a loss to Altona City in Round Five – and regional outfit Morwell Pegasus will face off against the Greens, who have plenty of experience in traversing the FFA Cup qualification stages.
Should sole remaining State League three outfit Knox City upset Heidelberg United tonight at Olympic Village, they will meet Kingston City, but a tasty all-NPL clash is more likely to await us for the chance at qualification to the FFA Cup National stage.
On the topic of all-NPL clashes, Moreland City will host Oakleigh Cannons, while another could take place at Lakeside Stadium with South Melbourne playing host to the winner of Box Hill United and cup specialists South Springvale Aris.
Off the back of three winless games to start the SL1 season, Mooroolbark SC square off against Northcote City tonight for the chance to take on mid-table top-flight outfit Port Melbourne Sharks.
With 14 league titles shared between them, the winner of Green Gully and Altona Magic tonight will have a tough fixture ahead, with a match-up against the high-flying Avondale FC – who beat SL2 side Essendon Royals in the Fifth Round – to come. It’s a task that the NPL chasing Magic will relish.
In one of the fixture with the most permeations, the winner of Dandenong City and Bulleen Lions will host Banyule City and Melbourne Knights for an FFA Cup spot.
Tonight’s mouthwatering clash between rivals North Sunshine Eagles and Preston Lions – which will be streamed via Football Federation Victoria at 8:30pm – will take on a Hume City outfit with three league clean sheets in as many fixtures or much improved NPL2 East outfit Nunawading City.
Full draw:
- Port Melbourne Sharks vs. winner of Mooroolbark SC & Northcote City
- Winner of Dandenong City & FC Bulleen Lions vs. Winner of Banyule City & Melbourne Knights
- Avondale FC vs. winner of Green Gully & Altona Magic
- Heidelberg United vs. winner of Knox City & Kingston City
- South Melbourne vs. winner of Box Hill United & South Springvale
- Bentleigh Greens vs. winner of RMIT FC & Morwell Pegasus
- Winner of North Sunshine Eagles & Preston Lions vs. winner of Hume City & Nunawading City