The final three places in the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup 2024 will be decided on Wednesday.
Reigning A-League Men champions Central Coast Mariners will kick off their season against Heidelberg United, Tasmania's Glenorchy Knights travel to NWS Spirt and NPL Men's Queensland outfit Olympic FC host reigning NPL Men's NSW premiers APIA Leichhardt.
Following the conclusion each match, the draw will be held to determine the Round of 16, Quarter Final and Semi Final match-ups, broadcast live and free on 10 Play, Australia Cup Facebook and Football Australia YouTube.
Heidelberg United FC v Central Coast Mariners FC
Date: Wednesday 7 August 2024
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: Olympic Park
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Central Coast Mariners come into the match having claimed an A-League Men Premiership, Championship and AFC Cup treble in a historic 2023/24 campaign.
The Australia Cup represents an opportunity to secure a fourth trophy this calendar year as the Mariners look to put their Round of 32 exit in 2023 behind them.
The treble-winning Mariners have seen several players leave such as goalkeeper Danny Vukovic who has retired, and Josh Nisbet, who was out of contract.
Exciting full-back Jacob Farrel also departed for Portsmouth FC as the Mariners re-shape their team for theseason.
Brazilian forward Vitor Feijao has come in, while defenders Diesel Herrington and Lucas Mauragis add some depth at the back.
Alfie McCalmont has signed from Carlisle United in the midfield, with Adam Pavlesic offering another option in between the sticks.
Heidelberg United have had a competitive year in the NPL Men’s Victoria, currently occupying fifth position with only three defeats.
Kaine Sheppard has been Heidelberg's key attacker again. The former A-Leagues striker has nine goals in 2024 in the competition.
Joshua Pin and Asahi Yokokawa have been amongst the goals this year, combining for 13 goals.
The side breezed through the Australia Cup Preliminary Rounds, scoring 22 goals in four games and keeping three clean sheets.
United can look to their 2017 Cup run, when they knocked out A-Leagues side Perth Glory before going on to make the Quarter Finals.
They have also performed well in the Australia Cup over its history, making the Quarter Finals in four out of the last nine years.
United’s strong Cup form makes them a dangerous opponent for the Mariners who will be looking to avoid another early exit from the competition.
NWS Spirit FC v Glenorchy Knights FC
Date: Wednesday 7 August 2024
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: Christie Park
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Spirit will make their second Round of 32 appearance in three years on Wednesday, having qualified in 2022.
They have endured a similarly battling season to the last campaign in the NPL Men’s NSW, sitting 10th on the table.
The side have shared the goals around this year with Zachary Cianci contributing the most at eight for 2024 in the league.
It was a tricky run to the latter stages this year, getting past Illawarra Premier League outfit Albion Park White Eagles before edging out Dulwich Hill.
Spirit then took out Sydney Olympic and Sydney United 58 in back-to-back rounds to qualify.
Glenorchy Knights have been the team to beat in the NPL Men’s Tasmania with only one defeat so far as they look down from the top of the table.
They have also hit a rich vein of form ahead of their Round of 32 clash, with five straight wins in response to their only defeat to South Hobart in late June.
The Knights are the best scorers in the competition as well, with 69 goals in 16 games this season—16 more than the next highest.
Wednesday will be Glenorchy’s first appearance in the Final Rounds of the Australia Cup, having made light work of Taroona and South East United in their first two matches.
In Preliminary Round Seven, Football Tasmania's Lakoseljac Cup Final, they scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Kingborough Lions United before winning the game 3-2 in extra time.
Stefan Cordwell proved to be the hero that night - the midfielder notching a match-winning brace.
This will be an intriguing battle between two sides that don't know a great deal about each other.
Olympic FC v APIA Leichhardt FC
Date: Wednesday 7 August 2024
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: Goodwin Park
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APIA Leichhardt will not retain their NPL Men’s NSW Premiership, but they will likely still be in the conversation for the Championship later in the year.
They are currently third on the table, 14 points off of Rockdale Ilinden in first place.
Former Sydney FC youngster Ben Gibson has had a breakout year in the competition with 17 goals this campaign.
Jack Stewart and Jack Armson have provided important goals from attacking midfield, combining for 20 goals in the competition.
Hazelbrook FC felt the full brunt of this APIA frontline in Preliminary Round Four of the Cup, losing 19-1.
APIA then put 10 goals past Berkeley Vale and Blacktown Spartans over the next two rounds before knocking out Marconi Stallions in Preliminary Round Seven.
This will be APIA’s fifth appearance in the Final Rounds and they currently unbeaten in their previous four Round of 32 appearances.
Olympic FC are seventh in the NPL Men's Queensland, but could still make the finals series with a strong run to finish the year and results going their way.
Cyrus Dehmie leads the way with eight goals in 2024, while Daniel Leck has netted six so far.
Dehmie could be the catalyst for Olympic, with the former Brisbane Roar frontman showcasing his quality this season.
Olympic racked up the goals in their qualifiers, averaging six per game, with Dehmie scoring twice in their Round 7 win over Southside Comets.
Both sides are no stranger to the rigours of Australia Cup football and while APIA look the stronger side, this promises to be a close encounter, with each team capable of stretching the other.
