Heidelberg United's gamble pays off with big win over Goulburn Valley Suns
Date
June 23, 2015 - 10:16PM
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Michael Lynch

Officials from the National Premier League (Victoria) club Heidelberg United gambled by spending thousands of dollars on an upgrade of the club's floodlights this week in the hope that they would see off Goulburn Valley Suns in their round six FFA Cup tie and put themselves in position for a clash with an A-League side in the next round.

After just over half an hour of their knockout tie with the club from central Victoria on Tuesday night, it was obvious that this was a risk-free bet: Heidelberg were three goals to the good, the Suns had barely launched an attack, and a place in the next round was a virtual certainty.

The Bergers now join South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons in the last 32 of the competition, the stage at which the 10 A-League clubs, along with those that have battled through state knockout tournaments in the rest of the country, go into the hat.

The winner of Wednesday night's confrontation between Hume City and Kingston City will be the fourth Victorian side into the draw and all will no doubt be dreaming of a clash with either Melbourne Victory or Melbourne City, or, failing that, with another A-League club.

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Heidelberg spent the money on their floodlights to ensure their Olympic Village ground complied with FFA guidelines so that Fox Sports could cover their next round game.

Heidleberg has been hit by injury and came into this match against a team from a division below — the Suns are in NPL 1 — on the back of a heavy loss last Friday night at Bentleigh, where George Katsakis's side had been thumped 4-0 by the Greens. That was somewhat ironic as Bentleigh themselves were the feel-good story of last season's FFA Cup when they reached the semi-finals.

Reuben Way eased any Heidelberg nerves in the 14th minute when he converted a cross from the right by Ken Athiu to put his side 1-0 up.

Two minutes later a slashing long-range drive from Andreas Govas beat Suns goalkeeper Phillip Petrovski all ends up to make it two-nil.

And in the 33rd minute Athiu, the lanky frontman, put the game beyond doubt when he outpaced the Suns defenders and finished coolly.

Two further second-half goals, one from Way which made it four and substitute Mark McGough, who notched the fifth, added salt to the Suns' wounds. Craig Carley gained some sort of consolation for the lower division side with a late penalty that made the final score 5-1.

June 24, 2015FFA CUP PREVIEWby Tom Frederico Club News, Senior News
The FFA Cup has provided upsets, surprises and has galvanized the football public in Australia.


But its also left broken hearts, winding the clock back 12 months, Hume City were favourites to progress against Victorian lower league side South Springvale.

Hume had the chance to compete in the inaugural FFA Cup but an unlikely defeat against Springvale was to stand in the way of the club from Broadmeadows Valley.

Moments of failure help shape a collective, Hume goalkeeper Chris Oldfield senses a “determined” mood around the club ahead of tonight’s all important Cup game against Kingston.

“The mood from the boys is a very determined one,” the Hume number one said.

“We have all been talking about it being the biggest game this year and biggest for the club so we are extremely determined to meet the demands.”

Oldfield believes Hume is stronger this time around, with additions to the playing group like former A-League starlets Marcus Schroen, Theo Markelis and Jai Ingham.

“The team we have this year is a lot different to the one we had last year. We are more balanced,” Oldfield said.

The Englishman highlights the absence of key players in last years’ FFA Cup clash against South Springvale.

“Myself, Nick Hegarty, Joey Franjic didn’t play amongst other regular starters. So we have a stronger team this year going into the game,” he said.

Oldfield’s affirms that the defeat against South Springvale won’t affect the squad going into tonight’s game.

“The staff and the players this year won’t let the South Springvale game affect us,” he said.

“This is a new game and a different team who are in good form.”

The carrot dangling above the heads of most National Premier League sides is the appetizing possibility of facing an A-League team under the spotlight of a television audience. Oldfield admits the club and playing group are “buzzing” at the opportunity to face an A-League side.

“The club and the players are buzzing at the concept of us playing a A-league club at home,” he said.

However, Oldfield is focused on the task at hand, Kingston at home.

“But we will just concentrate on [the FFA Cup] Wednesday game,” Oldfield said.

With game not far from kick-off at ABD Stadium Oldfield reminds us about the openness of Cup football.

“In the FFA cup anyone can win,” Oldfield said.

“Who ever turns up on the day and gives it there all will probably win it. It doesn’t matter what league it is.”

Pwoah holy crap. Didnt notice. That does look good. Hope this translates to the A league because it looks fucking mint.

have to wait and see if FFA implement a rule that it has to be on the front.

Still looks a bit bulky when not on white

Ffv radio apparently broadcasting this one. I dony have a link.

All pretty strong sides from vic. I think we'll do quite well this year.

Very exciting four. One might even back this season's South or Heidelburg over some of the more jokier A-League clubs on form right now.

Like brisbane.

Wanderers

Out of the r32 matches your side looks the most vulnerable at the moment.

No way. Perth will have the weakest squad going into that first game.

But only MC MV SFC and AU play non aleague teams in r32

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Adelaide City and Croydon set for Sunday’s FFA Cup qualifying final
ROB GREENWOOD MESSENGER COMMUNITY NEWS JUNE 26, 2015 1:09PM SHARE


ADELAIDE City is SA soccer’s cup king.

But as the Black and Whites prepare for Sunday’s FFA Cup qualifying final against Croydon, captain Matt Halliday says it's a crown that doesn’t sit easily.

“It’s a tough one,” Halliday, 23, says.

“People have labelled us as the cup specialists.

“We start every season hoping to win as many trophies as we can, but in the last few years in the league we haven’t been at our best.


“In the league there’s always next week, but in a knockout competition that’s your one and only chance and I guess we don’t like to lose.”

City will shoot for its third straight knockout title and 18th overall at the Parks (3pm kick-off).

The Oakden club has gone 14 games unbeaten in the SA cup stretching back to its 2012 semi-final loss to Para Hills.

But in the same period it has finished fourth (2012), third (2013) and sixth (2014) in the Premier League and currently sits seventh.

FFA Cup qualifying final preview
Adelaide City will aim for its 18th SA cup and Croydon its seventh when they meet in this Sunday’s final. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Victory will also guarantee the former National Soccer League giant an FFA Cup round of 32 clash with an A-League or interstate side.

Damian Mori’s men made national headlines in the inaugural competition last year when it knocked out Western Sydney Wanderers on its way to the last eight.

“That was an amazing night,” centre back Halliday says. “I don’t think it sunk in at the time, but looking back at it now it was probably the highlight of my career.

“For me to be able to captain one of the best clubs in Australia is an absolute honour and hopefully I’ll be able to lead them back on to the national stage again.”

The deadly trio of striker Anthony Costa (18 goals), playmaker Nic Bucco (13) and winger Joel Allwright (13) has helped City find the net 67 times in 22 league and cup games.

The scoring spree includes a 6-1 thumping of reigning league champion Croydon in April, but has been offset by the side leaking 35 goals.

“The start of our season wasn’t the best, but we’ve definitely turned that around in our past 10 or 11 games,” Halliday says.

“This FFA Cup is massive across the whole league and I think that gives us more incentive to win the (SA) cup.

“We want to challenge these interstate clubs and show what we’ve got to offer.”

Kings eye prize
CROYDON captain Luke Klimek is one game away from leading the club on to soccer’s national stage for the first time in its 65-year history.

The Kings take on Adelaide City in Sunday’s FFA Cup qualifying final knowing a win will secure a shot at an A-League or interstate club.

Victory would also deliver Croydon its first cup since 2000 and the seventh in its history.

“To be honest, we haven’t really thought too far ahead because we need to win one more game first,” Klimek, 26, says.

“But it’s not something that the club has experienced before, so for the long-term supporters, it would be amazing.”

The Kings ended a 37-year top-flight title drought when they beat MetroStars 2-1 in last season’s Premier League grand final.

“It’s pretty satisfying to be able to end these long droughts,” holding midfielder Klimek says.

“You think about how many years other players at the club have tried to win the title or the cup but haven’t been able to.

“Last year’s finals run was great for us.

“We had four games where we had to get a win to stay alive and that’s helped a lot because we’ve got a very young squad.”


Croydon endured a spluttering start to its league defence, winning just four of its opening 12 games.

But the Kings have since gone nine league and cup matches unbeaten thanks largely to the creativity of ex-Brisbane Roar winger Rocky Visconte and the finishing of 13-goal strikers Andreas Weins and Shaun McGreevy.

They showed character to beat White City on penalties in a dramatic cup semi-final last month after giving up a two-goal lead.

“It’s always good to have a tough challenge like that (semi-final) and it’s only going to make us better,” Klimek says.

“We started off (the season) slow and inconsistent, but our recent results have been strong.

“We don’t want to be a team that has one good year and struggles the next.

“We want to be consistently challenging for the title and play in cup finals.”

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