Australia Cup 2023

[RB]

A mixed night for the SA teams last night, with Adelaide United's defence looking like the Keystone cops against Wanderers - bad signs ahead of the league season, Campbelltown City unable to back up their impressive win over reigning champions Macarthur with a loss in Melbourne, but Metrostars bagging a 92nd minute winner to spare us all extra time in the freezing wind.

Western Sydney 5-1 Adelaide United - crowd 2,490
Melbourne Knights 2-0 Campbelltown City - crowd 950
Metrostars 1-0 Inter Lions* (NSW) - crowd 1,142

* = from the second tier in state soccer

As write, Sydney have just taken the lead at APIA Leichhardt, however Western are still locked in a battle with the Gold Coast Knights.

[RB]

The final Round of 16 match-ups concluded tonight:

APIA Leichhardt (NSW) 0-2 Sydney - crowd 4,601
Gold Coast Knights 0-2 Western - crowd 910
Mt. Druitt Town (NSW) 0-3 Heidelberg United (Vic.) - crowd 392

The draw for the quarter finals has just been conducted, the highlight of which is Melbourne City travelling to Adelaide in two weeks' time (venue TBA) to take on a red-hot Metrostars. The quarters are:

Melbourne Knights v Heidelberg United (Vic.)
Metrostars (SA) v Melbourne City
Sydney v Western
Brisbane v Western Sydney

[RB]

Metrostars were on track for a giant-killing until conceding two goals in the last ten minutes against Melbourne City, the first a header that the keeper arguably should have claimed, and the second a tap-in following a penalty save. Metrostars played well - both sides had a number of scoring chances - but will be ruing missing an absolutely golden chance to make the semi finals.

In the other game tonight, Melbourne Knights came from 2-0 down to win with two very late goals, 3-2, against ten-man Heidelberg United.

Tonights's quarter final results:

Metrostars (SA) 1-2 Melbourne City - crowd 2,022
Melbourne Knights 3-2 Heidelberg United (Vic.) - crowd 2,236

The other two quarters will be played on the weekend.

[RB]

The quarter finals wrapped up today:

Brisbane 4-2 Western Sydney - crowd 3,926
Sydney 3-0 Western - crowd 2,916

The semi finals, to be played on Sunday, will be as follows:

Melbourne Knights v Brisbane
Melbourne City v Sydney

[Dinglinga75]

Metrostars were on track for a giant-killing until conceding two goals in the last ten minutes against Melbourne City, the first a header that the keeper arguably should have claimed, and the second a tap-in following a penalty save. Metrostars played well - both sides had a number of scoring chances - but will be ruing missing an absolutely golden chance to make the semi finals.

In the other game tonight, Melbourne Knights came from 2-0 down to win with two very late goals, 3-2, against ten-man Heidelberg United.

Tonights's quarter final results:

Metrostars (SA) 1-2 Melbourne City - crowd 2,022
Melbourne Knights 3-2 Heidelberg United (Vic.) - crowd 2,236

The other two quarters will be played on the weekend.

Poor form by Melbourne City after the game.. Tradition in SA after each game the home club provides meals for all players & officials . Metrostars contacted Melbourne City if there were any dietary requirements . Not one Melbourne City player or official went into the Metrostars clubroom afterwards .

[RB]

The Roar are through to their first ever Australia Cup Final, while Sydney have qualified for the fourth, and are aiming to win the trophy for the second time.

The semi finals were as follows:

Melbourne City 1-2 Sydney - crowd 2,267
Melbourne Knights 0-1 Brisbane - crowd 5,183

The final will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium (of course lol) on Saturday 7 October at 7.15 p.m. Adelaide time. I believe it will be screened live on Channel 10.

[whufc]

2000 at an Australian Cup semi final between two A-League sides.

Not great...

[RB]

Not great but not unexpected given City's usual crowd numbers.

I would like people to get around the Cup a bit more but I don't think many really take much notice of soccer until the AFL/NRL is finished unfortunately.