Matchday One of the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 16 features two hotly anticipated fixtures, with Nunawading City rewarded with a tie against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney United hosting Sydney FC in a mouth-watering Sydney derby.
Read our preview of Sunday’s action below.
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Nunawading City v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, 10 August
Kick-off: 3pm AEST
Venue: Nasiol Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play or the Football Australia YouTube Channel
Tickets
Nunawading City have been rewarded for their record Round of 32 victory with a home tie against A-League Men’s team Wellington Phoenix.
The third-tier Victorian team defeated Darwin Olympic 9-0 in their first game on the national stage. They won’t expect to do the same against the Phoenix, but will take a lot of confidence out of a comprehensive result.
If they were to pull off an upset against the Phoenix, they will have to overturn recent disappointing league form, including three successive 2-1 defeats that leaves them at serious risk of relegation from the VPL2.
For their part, the Phoenix required penalties to get past Perth Glory in a wet and wild Round of 32 clash. They’ll be hoping for a more straightforward game this time out as they hope to advance to the quarter-finals for only the third time.
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Record Breakers: The inside story behind Nunawading City’s 9-0 win
Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC
Sunday, 10 August
Kick-off: 3pm AEST
Venue: Sydney United Sports Centre
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets
Sydney United 58 will host Sydney FC in a massive Sydney Derby on Sunday afternoon.
The match is the second time that the two teams have faced off, after doing so at the same stage in the competition in 2014. The A-League Men’s outfit were triumphant that day – Sydney United will be hoping to turn the tables this time out.
United 58 defeated Northern Tigers 1-0 in the Round of 32 in a repeat of the Waratah Cup final. It is the seventh time they have reached the Round of 16, including a memorable run to the final in 2022.
Their opponents edged past fellow A-League Men’s team Western United by the same margin in their Round of 32 tie, with a goal courtesy of Mathias Macallister proving crucial.
While the two-time champions Sydney FC will go into the match as favourites, Sydney United are mid-season and at the peak of their powers. Don’t rule out a ‘Cupset’ in what could be the biggest game of the round in front of what is expected to be a massive crowd.
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