FC Melbourne Srbija and Modbury Jets walk out for their Round of 32 clash at the Home of the Matildas. Photo: Ross Papadakis

After Perth Glory and Melbourne City played out a nine goal thriller on the weekend, Match Day 4 had a lot to live up to, and it delivered in spades across the four games.

The fairytale story of the Australia Cup continued, South Melbourne toppled the Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne Victory started life under Patrick Kisnorbo with a win, and Olympic Kingsway dominated in wet conditions over in Perth.

From VPL2 to the Final 16 – FC Melbourne Srbija overcome Modbury Jets

In a match that will be etched in Australian football folklore for time, underdogs FC Melbourne Srbija have defied all expectations to defeat NPL SA side, Modbury Jets 4-1 on penalties after extra time. 

The victory propels them into the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup, a remarkable achievement for the VPL2 side.

Facing a formidable opponent several tiers above them, Srbija were given a rude awakening when Francesco Schimizzi’s exquisite 4th minute finish capped off a slick Modbury move.

The goal was a hammer blow to the spirited underdogs, but they refused to surrender.

In a battle characterised by fierce tackles, lung-bursting runs, and unwavering determination, Srbija clawed their way back into the contest. The equaliser, a moment of pure elation, arrived through the head of Milos Ilic, sending the Srbija faithful into raptures.

Ilic, who’s father and grandfather played for the club, was jubilant when speaking about the equalising goal.

“There’s a very long history, no doubt about that,” Ilic said, explaining it as his proudest moment of his footballing career.

Extra time was a blur of end-to-end action as both sides threw caution to the wind in pursuit of victory. 

Neither team could find a decisive goal, setting the stage for a penalty shootout that would decide the fate of both clubs.

In the end, it was Srbija’s indomitable spirit that prevailed, erupting in jubilation as Hikaru Ichigi’s winning penalty sealed a 4-1 shootout victory, propelling Srbija into the Round of 16.

“Dreams sometimes do come true,” said Ilic, a plumber by trade, as he reflected on their incredible Cup run.

Their journey to the Round of 16 is a testament to the magic of the Cup and a source of immense pride for the Serbian community of Australia.

Ross Papadakis

South Melbourne want to “win the Cup”

Another week in the Australia Cup, another A-League exit at the hands of a member federation club, as this time the Wellington Phoenix were knocked out by Victorian NPL outfit, South Melbourne.

Whilst the ‘cupset’ sticker is instantly slapped down onto any A-League versus state team match-up, it really should not be much of a surprise that the famous blue and white were able to claim this scalp at Lakeside on Tuesday night.

Six points clear with two rounds to play in the league and fresh off a record-equaling ninth Dockerty Cup triumph at the weekend, South are in peak form. They’re fueled by their exuberant manager Esteban Quintas, who didn’t mince his words speaking to Network 10 pre-game.

“The idea is beat Wellington Phoenix and then beat the last one, because we know never in the history, an NPL club win this Cup,” he said.

“This is the goal: Win the Cup.”

Beat Wellington they did, albeit a very young Phoenix team. An early goal from captain Harrison Sawyer was enough as the typically resilient South defence protected their lead well.

To go on and win the competition really would be something special, but if any NPL club can, South are undoubtedly towards the front of the queue and will be a fascinating storyline to watch throughout the remaining rounds.

Whilst the result is certainly a disappointment, it is not a whole lot lost for Wellington.

The side had an average age of 20.8 in the starting XI; Alex Rufer, Tim Payne and Paulo Retre were left at home with Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas only appeared after the 60th minute.

The Phoenix end their final Australia Cup as New Zealand’s sole participants in Melbourne, and will look ahead to the beginning of the A-League Men season in October.

Lachlan Avil

Olympic Kingsway break Football West curse

Olympic Kingsway welcomed the Edgeworth Eagles out west, before sending the visitors home disappointed as they became the first Football West side to qualify for the Round of 16 since 2017, and just the second to do so in the history of the Australia Cup.

The first half saw the NPL Northern NSW side pile the pressure on for the opening half an hour, with Flynn Goodman putting them up a goal in the sixth minute, but were unable to add a second before the break as the hosts found their feet.

In wet conditions, Joseph Hobson found an equaliser for Kingsway as the side dominated the remainder of the first half and were unlucky to not find a second before the break, giving Eagles coach Peter McGuinness a lot to think about heading into the sheds.

The task for Edgeworth became much tougher as Chris Fayers, who picked up a yellow card in the first half, received a second in the 58th minute, leaving the visitors down to 10 while trying to regain the lead, but as the rain began to tumble down, an Aaron Oppedisano own goal in the 64th minute would give Kingsway its first lead of the match.

The home side, after relentless pressure with the advantage, would score a third in the 80th minute to seal the game through captain Mitch Oxborrow, sending the West Australian side through to the Round of 16, before Joe Knowles, the former Perth Glory, Oakleigh, and Brisbane Roar player, would score a fourth for Olympic.

Whilst the impact of the player advantage for most of the second half cannot be understated, Kingsway should provide a challenge to any side it draws in the next stage of the competition.

Poletti

Debutant impresses as Victory run out 4-1 winners

Melbourne Victory debutant Alex Lee was one of the shining lights as the A-League Men side dominated from early in a clash with Northern NSW NPL side Lambton Jaffas. The youngster bagged a goal and showed plenty of class with creating dangerous attacking options on multiple occasions.

Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan described Lee as having “ice in his veins in the key moments” after Lee scored on debut with a deft touch past the Jaffas goalkeeper, former A-Leagues shot stopper Ben Kennedy. 

Lee featured on the scoresheet alongside the experienced Bruno Fornaroli who converted a penalty to open the scoring and rising star Nishan Velupillay who bagged a brace as Victory were comprehensive in securing their progress to the Round of 16.

Duncan, who was in his first start with Melbourne Victory, described his first game in over a year as “a privilege and an honour”. The shot stopper did himself no disservice in his efforts to secure the starting goalkeepers role on first showing, with a number of key saves early.

The Jaffas backed up on a short turnaround from a top three Northern NSW NPL clash on Saturday and were outclassed by their top tier opponents, although young midfielder Pat Bond who bagged Lambton’s sole goal with a stunning strike from range described the fixture as an “exciting and a fun opportunity to test themselves against top tier opponents”.

Bond paid tribute to the “fantastic and vocal support” from the Jaffas faithful crowd of 1172 who “braved the conditions until the end” despite the scoreline blowing out to 4-1.

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