Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix secured 2025 Australia Cup quarter-final berths as the two Isuzu UTE A-League teams navigated their way through the Round of 16 on Sunday.
New signings Al Hassan Toure and Rhys Youlley combined to help Sydney FC take down NPLM NSW outfit Sydney United 2-0 at the Sydney United Sports Centre.
Two-time Australia Cup champions the Sky Blues will face either reigning Isuzu UTE A-League premiers Auckland FC or NPLM VIC giants South Melbourne in the next round.
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After three years abroad, Toure is back in the A-Leagues and the 25-year-old was on target on for the firs time as a Sydney FC player Sunday afternoon.
Toure – the older brother of Socceroo Mo Toure and young gun Musa – gave the Sky Blues the lead in the 10th minute when he headed home a Joe Lolley cross from close range.
Ufuk Talay’s Sydney, who were also boasting Young Socceroos star Paul Okon Jr following his arrival from Portuguese giants Benfica, had to absorb some pressure in the second half before Youlley sealed the victory.
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Labelled one of “Australia’s brightest midfield talents” after returning Down Under via Sydney FC, Youlley scored his first goal for the Sky Blues with two minutes remaining.
“I thought we had some good moments in the game, some very positive moments. I thought we did very well in defending our box this afternoon, so overall pleased, we got the goal early,” said Talay.
“The boys dug deep and it’s not easy coming to United and playing on synthetic. So overall, they’ve done a job and we continue to the next round.
“So far preseason has been positive, the boys have been working hard and they’re trying to take the information on board, so now things are working well.”
Wellington’s last-gasp win in Melbourne
Wellington Phoenix ended the fairytale run of NPL3 VIC side Nunawading City in dramatic circumstances on Sunday.
Phoenix forward Hideki Ishige headed home from a corner in the 94th minute to break the hearts of third-tier Victorian club Nunawading, who had made history in the Round of 32 courtesy of their record-breaking 9-0 rout of Darwin Olympic.
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Nunawading put up a fight at Nasiol Stadium in Melbourne, where 17-year-old goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron made his Phoenix debut as Josh Oluwayemi moved to the bench.
New signing and Nigerian striker Ifeanyi Eze also started for Wellington.
But in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Japanese star Ishige stepped up to send Wellington through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2022-23. The Phoenix now await the winner of the last-16 tie between NPLM VIC’s Heidelberg United and Western Sydney Wanderers.
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“I thought that we showed a lot more discipline and intent to go forward,” Italiano said post-match,” said ‘Nix head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano.
“I thought the first half was very disappointing in terms of executing our gameplan. The pitch didn’t help. It’s not an excuse because they had to play on it as well, and credit to them they defended very well.
“I thought their goalkeeper did exceptionally well, especially in that second half, but I think with the amount of chances we made in that second half we should have won the game by a couple more.
“I never felt at all in that game that they were going to score. It was just a matter of when we were going to score and finish the game.
“I’m not really fazed about the fact that we had wait until the 94th minute. I was buoyed by the fact that in the second half I got the response that I wanted.
“I thought Paulo Retre was exceptional when he played at centre back, I thought (Ifeanyi) Eze coming on was very good, I thought Luke Supyk did exceptionally well and I think it was just positive subs with Carlo coming on as well, giving us more attacking intent on the left.”
