Can't happen soon enough. These matches are what the Cup is all about.

https://www.insidesport.com.au/news/cupset-apia-leichhardt-stun-melbourne-victory-500599
The results mean that APIA, Sydney, Bentleigh Greens and Avondale FC are all into the semi-finals.

Which intern or alcoholic has been does the research around here

Just got home from the game.
I suppose there was hope Honda came up for support but the other notable is Sekiya.
Have been going to APIA games for years and since he started playing more have turned up to games.
So, welcome to Leichardt Pala, great small ground even though I dislike the cambers towards the grandstand but its a good football ground.
As some have mentioned, APIA have been struggling the recent weeks more so due to losing Murray imo to CCM a few weeks ago who had broken the PL scoring record this season, the last couple of games we went to watch he had scored 2 hat tricks from memory.
I'm impressed APIA did that well tonight after most of us know following PL here Sydney United took them to ET then pens on the weekend so I thought they would have been cooked and fade before your mob and look ahead for this weekends play off that is critical.
Not to be and you can't stop Sekiya thats for sure, pace to burn and a real hand full.
Great team effort and helps that your still in season when the AL clubs are just beginning - but thats the Cup that we all are enjoying and what a evening for PL clubs knocking off one of the big boys.

Bring on October 2020 is all I can say. Keen AF to see these guys on the national stage being "not good enough" for the haters.

Got tips for the EPL on the weekend, I need to put on a multi haha

-PB

Heh.  I don't anyone saw that coming considering their recent two NPL matches.   Happy to be wrong,  well done to them & suck shit tards.  

agree, never expected that outcome, it was dead set against form of late by APIA and praise the lord it occurred and in bold yeryer.

Last time you will see Cairns FC too, folding this weekend.

-PB

that so.....what a way to finish but not good to hear.

The standard of the npl has definitely improved .
People keep talking about HAL clubs being out of season.But npl is not professional.People there have day jobs and don't train half as much as HAL clubs.
When the FFA Cup first started, except for the occassional win or close game ,the majority of games were pretty easy for any HAL club that took games seriously.Now HAL teams are struggling to win by a goal.
Imagine if these npl teams were able to train as often as HAL teams and had even a quarter of the money of a HAL club.
Would any be that much worse than CCM or WP have been?
It really does point to a 2nd Div being much more realsitic and competitive.It would also allow many more players to be assessed for the HAL as they would be physically ready.Which also means more players for expansion.

You are also going to have an enormous amount of kids that come through the a-league academies and can't get a gig at an a-league club.

It is plain crazy not to have a professional second division and it is clear that the infrastructure exists and that the jump up in quality just isn't that big.

I 100% agree with you. The top tier NPL clubs have closed the gap since the FFA Cup started. Bring on the national second division ASAP.

There is no doubt in my mind that teams like:

Bentleigh Greens
Heidelberg United
Avondale FC
APIA Leichardt
Sydney Olympic
Sydney United 58
QLD Lions FC
Brisbane Olympic
Campbelltown City

could beat ALL teams in the A-League in their current form. That's already 9 teams, you could easily add potentially an Edgeworth, Perth Soccer Club and Adelaide City into the mix and you've got yourself a more than competitive second div.

So looking at next week's games is WSW and Adelaide in trouble? 

Poor management on their end, they just went through a third re branding and even were interested in going a 2nd Div.

I'm not surprised tbh, even playing youth there it was unorganised. It doesn't help either that AFL take all the funding from the government. They use indigenous relations as their main reason to get it.

If Bonnyrigg can do over the Wanderers it'll be an even bigger upset than APIA beating MVFC.  

haha, well come on I wouldn't rate it as big.
APIA just beat the reigning GF Champions - bit better than beating the wanderers who were a basket case last season finishing some 30+ points behind SFC, at least MV were 2nd wanderers 6th.
The Cupset would be that as we know Bonno is to be relegated to PL2 for 2019 season so would be a pissa them doing wanderers and lets face it Rockdale gave wanderers a run for their money and in the position Bonno is in they'll go all out with guns blazing thats for sure - GO Bonno !

nah, BWE are for the tip, just got relegated from NPL1

The problem is form can fluctuate wildly from year to year. Half the teams you listed could be crap next year. Sydney Olympic went from a relegation dogfight to premiers plate winners within 12 months.

We went from ffa cup semi final and 2nd spot in npl to a complete shit show this year.

Pro/relegation sorts this out, whether you're good or poor the ladder ultimately dictates where you end up.

See I would rate Bonnyrigg beating the Wanderers as significant because in the case of APIA they are a top NPL side with a very good roster. Bonnyrigg on the other hand as you've said are relegated & have been just plain awful this NPL season.  Although Wanderers are a mid level A League side who have also been decidely average as well as being in off season they are still a professional setup with a new coach & supposedly new approach so for them to fall to Bonnyrigg would be huge in my opinion.  Like you said Bonnyrigg are finished in NPL this season so they'll be focusing all of their attention on their upcoming FFA Cup matches.  Wanderers are doable however it would be profoundly embarassing for them to lose. 

Just to correct you re Olympic, 2017 they finished 5th, 9points from 1st, 2016 6th.
In saying that form 1year can go opposite the following as you say as per your club.

I get you But for me, beating top dog against the odds tops it imo.
Wanderers are doable at this stage of their season no doubt about it, if you check the PL ladder, excl APIA who's GF are double to most of the others Bonno are scoring similar to the others its their defense that is the worst !.
IF they can improve their effort and reduce defensive errors wanderers are in for a game.
GO Bonno.

anything is possible but AUFC got most of their signings done early and have been training together as a group for a while now. IMO they are in with a very good chance of winning the cup.

Oh ho ho, this has eggs written all over it. :D

Scraping past Cairns must have shaken you up good, better hope you don't get another npl team next :D

hehe WSF, the record shows a win - all that counts, scare yep but everyone needs a scare good for the blood circulation and the players.
Were going to have alot of scares coming I'm sure same goes for your lot :)

i did lead with a disclaimer......

But relegation ruins clubs doesn't it?

Or was that just a bullshit lie?

newcastle vs city  who's going to win? 

City. We'll be without Kanta, Koutroumbis, O'Donovan, Champness and possibly Moss