We have ourselves a giant-killing!
In the final six games of the FFA Cup round of 32, the A League’s Wellington Phoenix fell to semi-pro side Bentleigh Greens, 1-0.
The Greens, based in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham, took the lead through the son of a former Real Madrid player as Marco Jankovic bagged in the 23rd minute of the tie. Bentleigh were reduced to 10 men after just half an hour but managed to hang on to produce the shock of the round.
Their reward for victory is a trip Newcastle to take on Broadmeadow Magic in the last 16 of the competition.
Elsewhere, Hellenic Athletic pushed Western Sydney Wanderers all the way as they fell 4-3 in a dramatic game in the Northern Territory. Hellenic went two goals down but managed to fight back and had the game at 3-3 until Roly Bonevacia spared the A League sides’ blushes with a winner in the 92nd minute. The Wanderers will face the Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the next stage of the cup.
Melbourne Victory managed a 1-0 win over fellow A League side Perth Glory even without their new star signing Keisuke Honda.
Honda, who made the move to Melbourne official earlier this week, is expected to make his debut for the Victory in the next round of the FFA Cup as the Victory travel to Sydney to take on APIA Leichhardt.
Melbourne City will join their cross city rivals in the next round following a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar after a late extra-time winner broke the deadlock. City will face fellow A League side Newcastle Jets in the last 16 as the Jets saw off Gold Coast United 1-0.
In the final game of the round of 32, Devonport City took an early two goal lead on their way to beating Northcote City 3-1. The Tasmanian side will face Victoria’s Avondale FC in the next round.
Elsewhere in the round of 16, Adelaide Comets will face Heidelberg United while Queensland’s Lions FC will take on Adelaide United.
Cairns FC’s reward for making it to the last 16 for the first time is a home tie against Sydney FC as all games will be played on two nights over two weeks later this month.
The full round of 16 fixtures are:
Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Avondale FC v Devonport Strikers
Adelaide Comets v Heidelberg United
Broadmeadow Magic v Bentleigh Greens
Lions FC v Adelaide United
Cairns FC v Sydney FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Western Sydney Wanderers
Gallagher is the official insurance broker of Football Federation Australia and a supporter of the FFA Cup.