Three Isuzu UTE A-League clubs were in action on Tuesday night in the 2026 Australia Cup Round of 32.
Holders Newcastle Jets travelled to Melbourne to face NPL Victoria side Preston Lions while Adam Griffiths’ Perth Glory travelled across the country and to Queensland where they took on Lions FC.
Meanwhile Sydney FC were also in action as they kicked off their Australia Cup campaign in Western Australia against Bayswater City.
Read on below to find out what happened on what was a brilliant night of cup football.
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Preston Lions 3-2 Newcastle Jets
Preston Lions made history on Tuesday night as they booked their spot in the Australia Cup Round of 16 for the very first time after defeating holders Newcastle Jets in a five-goal thriller.
Things were looking good for the 2025 winners as Will Dobson converted from the edge of the box in the 17th minute to give Mark Milligan’s side the lead.
The Jets then doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute as new signing Nikos Vergos finished off a flowing Newcastle move and it looked for all the world the holders would be progressing to the next round.
But this is the Australia Cup.
Nahuel Bonada pulled one back for Preston in the 56th minute, heading home the rebound from his initial shot before Bonada then grabbed his second in the 62nd minute, converting from close range to send the home crowd wild.
The upset was then complete in the 93rd minute as the home side went from box-to-box, countering after a failed Jets attack, with Daniel Lazarevski on hand to head home the winner.
Check out the highlights of the game below.
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Bayswater City 1-5 Sydney FC
Sydney FC cruised through to the Australia Cup Round of 16 after demolishing Bayswater City care of a brilliant hat-trick from Tiago Quintal.
The 20-year-old talent opened his account for the evening after 20 minutes as he latched on to a through ball from Akol Akon before dispatching his shot past the keeper.
The home side were largely on the back foot in the first half but when they did finally gain some momentum in the game they made it count, as Cameron Teece headed home from a corner.
Sydney regained the lead less than two minutes later though and Akon was involved once more, this time firing a low ball across goal which was converted by Mathias Macallister.
The Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Finalists then piled on the goals in the second half as Quintal found the bottom corner with a lovely strike from the edge of the box to make it 3-1 before Zac De Jesus converted into an empty net to make it 4-1.
Quintal then sealed the match ball two minutes later as he drilled another left-footed strike beyond the keeper and into the back of the net to send Bayswater packing and Sydney FC into the Round of 16.
Lions FC 1-1 Perth Glory
(Lions win 4-2 on pens)
Lions FC are through to the Australia Cup Round of 16 after defeating Isuzu UTE A-League side Perth Glory on penalties.
A tight contest finished goalless during normal time but the home side took the lead in the first half of extra time as Jerson Lagos fired a stunning left-footed effort into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Matt Sutton no chance.
Perth equalised in the 109th minute as Andriano Lebib was on hand to head home from a cross to ensure the game went to penalties, and that’s when the drama really unfolded.
Perth’s Sebastian Despotovski was the first to miss, seeing his penalty saved by Jacson Riley and from then on the home side never looked back.
Arion Sulemani was then denied by Riley giving Tommy Jarrard the chance to send Lions FC through to Round of 16 and he duly did.
