Ahead of the Round 16, we look back at the significant stats across what has been an electrifying Australia Cup 2024.
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A-League Men sides made to work for their places in the Round of 32
The 2024 Round of 32 featured three Cupsets, with Oakleigh Cannons, South Melbourne and Heidelberg United all getting victories against their A-League Men’s opponents.
The three clubs have created history, with 2024 being the first year the Australia Cup has ever had three Cupsets in the Round of 32.
Another win for Lions FC, Olympic Kingsway, Moreton City Excelsior or NWS Spirit in the Round of 16 would see this year’s tournament feature the most Cupsets in history, with the record currently shared with 2022.
Meanwhile, other A-League Men’s clubs were pushed to the brink by NPL sides as they progressed onwards in the Australia Cup.
Against Rockdale Ilinden, Newcastle Jets took just three shots, with only the eliminated Darwin Hearts taking less.
Their limited shots meant that, despite bowing out, Rockdale’s Nicholas Sorras was one of just two goalkeepers not to make a save in the Round of 32, while at the other end, Ryan Scott was put to work, making five saves from his 11 shots faced.
Adelaide United also had to deal with an attacking Blacktown City side, securing progression with a 3-2 win after extra time.
In this match, James Delianov made nine saves, the most of any goalkeeper in the Round of 32.
Shots don’t always convert to goals
One of the biggest surprises of the Round of 32 came from FC Melbourne Srbija, who, despite playing in the third division of Victoria’s state leagues, defeated South Australian NPL 1 side Modbury Jets in a penalty shootout.
The game finished 1-1, but was statistically one of the most exciting games of the round, featuring the most shots of any match (39) and the joint-most saves (12).
The match with the second-most shots also finished low-scoring, with Olympic FC prevailing 1-0 over APIA Leichhardt in a fixture that saw 38 shots and 12 saves.
Olympic vs APIA Leichhardt was exciting beyond the attacking play, however, as the game saw an astonishing 91 tackles - 34 ahead of Perth Glory vs Melbourne City, which had the second-most across the Round of 32.
Nevertheless, FC Melbourne Srbija vs Modbury Jets and Olympic vs APIA produced just three goals from a combined 77 shots - a conversion rate of 4%.
The two games with the most shots made up two of just three Round of 32 matches to finish with two goals or less, showing that shots - however many - don’t always convert to goals.
Perth Glory score incredible victory over Melbourne City
The only Saturday fixture in the Round of 32 made history, with Perth Glory beating Melbourne City in the first 5-4 ever in the Australia Cup.
The game also became the joint-highest scoring match in the 10 years of this tournament, matching a 3-6 between Hills Brumbies and Hakoah Sydney City East and a 7-2 that saw Sydney United 58 prevail over Far North Queensland.
With eight different goalscorers, this match helped make the 2024 Round of 32 the joint-third highest scoring in history, with its 65 goals only beaten by 2023 (70) and 2019 (66).
With the average 2024 Australia Cup finals match possessing four goals, the Round of 16 looks set to be a brilliant spectacle as sides across the country continue to search for success on a national stage.
