The Round of 16 of the 2023 Australia Cup gets underway this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know.
Australia Cup action returns when the Round of 16 gets underway on Saturday afternoon.
Over the next week, eight sides will edge a step closer to securing the first piece of domestic silverware on offer in the 2023-24 season throughout a series of blockbuster ties including a Semi Final rematch, local derby and much more.
Three of the eight sides to progress to the quarter finals are guaranteed to be teams outside of the A-Leagues, while three additional NPL outfits will be hoping to cause a ‘Cupset’ when they lock horns with top tier opposition.
However, each of the seven remaining Isuzu UTE A-League sides have aspirations of their own to not only win the Cup but gain some all important momentum going into the new season – especially with a raft of new players looking to acclimatise to their new surroundings.
Ahead of play resuming, here’s everything you need to know about the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup.
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How to watch?
All Australia Cup matches will be streamed live and free on 10Play.
Round of 16 fixtures
Saturday August 26
Sydney United 58 0-5 Brisbane Roar
Venue: Edensor Park
Kick-off: 2 PM (AEST)
Sunday August 27
Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
Venue: Jack Edwards Reserve
Kick-off: 2 PM (AEST)
Tuesday August 29
Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United
Venue: Marconi Stadium
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Melbourne Knights v Campbelltown City
Venue: Knights Stadium
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
MetroStars v Inter Lions
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Wednesday August 30
APIA Leichhardt v Sydney FC
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Gold Coast Knights v Western United
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Heidelberg United
Venue: Popondetta Park
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
When is the draw for the quarter finals?
The draw for the quarter finals will take place at the conclusion of the APIA Leichhardt vs Sydney FC contest on Wednesday August 30. It will be streamed live on 10 Play.
FULL DETAILS: Australia Cup Round of 16 locked in as NPL club sends cup holders crashing out
Australia Cup national stages dates
Quarter Finals: Wednesday September 13, Saturday September 16, Sunday September 17. (Exact Quarter Finals and Semi-Final match days to be confirmed by Football Australia)
Semi Finals: Saturday September 23, Sunday September 24, Wednesday September 27. (Exact Quarter Finals and Semi-Final match days to be confirmed by Football Australia)
Final: Saturday October 7
Key storylines
Best of NSW takes on local powerhouses
Two of Sydney’s finest will provide the headline act of the Round of 16 as NPL New South Wales powerhouse APIA Leichhardt Tigers welcome Sydney FC to town on Wednesday night.
After a dominant season, APIA are one point away from securing the NPL NSW Premiership and will be hoping to cap off what could be a momentous week in the club’s history with a win over their local rivals.
This will also be the first time the two senior sides have locked horns in a competitive fixture.
The Tigers booked their place in the final 16 with a comfortable 4-1 victory over NPL3 Victoria side Goulburn Valley Suns, but will face a much sterner test in the form of the Sky Blues.
APIA have a history of Cupsets, having famously beaten then reigning champions Melbourne Victory on their home turf back in 2018.
Meanwhile, Steve Corica’s side played out one of the great Cup ties against the Central Coast Mariners in Wollongong, defeating the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions in a marathon penalty shootout – following a 3-3 draw after extra time.
Andrew Redmayne was the hero for Sydney, saving a penalty before slotting the winning spot kick to secure Sydney’s place in the final 16.
Sydney turned to the kids in their opening game as well, perhaps signalling a new direction under Corica going into the new season.
The likes of Corey Hollman, Kealey Adamson, Matthew Scarcella, Mitchell Glasson and Jaiden Kucharski – who scored a dramatic equaliser to send the game to penalties – were all given opportunities to varying extents.
Semi Final rematch in Sydney’s west
The Round of 16 gets underway with a rematch between two familiar foes at Edensor Park.
Last year’s runners-up Sydney United 58 will play host to Brisbane Roar just under a year after they faced off in a memorable Semi Final at the same venue. United became the first NPL team to reach the final of the Australia Cup in a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Roar in extra time.
Miro Vlastelica’s side came from behind not once, but twice, to send the game to extra time before Glen Trifiro fired home the winner in the 105th minute to secure their passage to the final against Macarthur FC.
United’s 2023 campaign got off to an equally dramatic start, defeating Northern NSW NPL outfit Broadmeadow Magic 4-2 at Magic Park, as they look to embark on yet another deep run in the competition.
Brisbane, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 with a come from behind 3-2 victory over Newcastle Jets – where they also had to work their way back from a deficit on two occasions to send the game to extra time.
The returning Alex Parsons was the hero, scoring the winner in the 118th minute.
It will be a curious to see if new coach Ross Aloisi calls upon new signing Florin Berenguer after he made the switch from Melbourne City; the Frenchman should he be available for selection.
Inter look to end incredible undefeated streak
Inter Lions – the lowest ranked side remaining in the competition – will be looking to cause a major stir next Tuesday night when they head on the road to take on newly minted NPL South Australia premiers MetroStars.
The NSW League One outfit progressed to the next round with a resounding 6-0 win over Hellenic Athletic in Darwin, but will face arguably one of the toughest tests outside of A-Leagues opposition.
MetroStars have been on a tear locally, winning the NPL SA Premiership ahead of Campbelltown City off the back of an incredible 20-game undefeated streak in all competitions.
The streak includes their resounding 5-0 victory over Inglewood United in the Round of 32 and winning the Football South Australia Federation Cup Final against Campbelltown City.
Metro’s undefeated run could extend to 21 games by the time the two sides lock horns next week, as they take on Modbury Jets in the first leg of their NPL Semi Final tie.
Inter, on the other hand, sit seventh in NSW’s second tier and come into the contest in good form of their own having gone seven games unbeaten in all competitions.
City and Phoenix face off in the Cup… again!
It seems as if Melbourne City taking on Wellington Phoenix in the Australia Cup is just a given!
For the third successive season, the two sides will do battles in the Cup at, incredibly, a third different venue in Melbourne’s south-east, having played the last fixtures at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex and Casey Fields prior to this year’s upcoming meeting at Jack Edwards Reserve – the home of Oakleigh Cannons, who they vanquished in the Round of 32.
It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in the Cup, equalling the record for the most common Cup fixture alongside Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory and Adelaide United v Sydney FC.
Despite all previous fixtures happening in Victoria, Wellington have had the wood over City in the Cup, winning the 2021 fixture in a dramatic penalty shootout where ‘Nix keeper Alex Paulsen put his name up in lights by saving three spot-kicks.
The Phoenix also won the corresponding fixture last year 2-1 in the teeming rain at Casey, thanks to goals from Kosta Barbarouses and Ben Waine..
However, it hasn’t always been one-way traffic in Cup meetings, with City winning 5-1 in a Round of 16 meeting back in 2015 at AAMI Park.
