Two Cupsets in massive night of Hahn Australia Cup action
It was a famous night of Hahn Australia Cup action as Victoria's Preston Lions scored a stoppage time winner to defeat 2025 Cup winners Newcastle Jets, while Queensland's Lions FC defeated Perth Glory on penalties.
Elsewhere, Sydney FC were the only A-League Men survivors of the evening - comfortably defeating Bayswater City 5-1 - and Heidelberg United got their campaign underway with a 3-0 victory over Cumberland United.
Read our review of the Hahn Australia Cup Matchday 3 action below.
Preston Lions 3-2 Newcastle Jets
It is a famous day in the history of the Preston Lions, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in their first ever game in the national rounds of the Hahn Australia Cup.
The Jets took the lead early in the first half. Will Dobson picked up a ball from a rebound and found a way through the defence to score.
Six minutes later, Nikos Vergos scored his first goal for the club. Daniel Wilmering put in a cross for Xavier Bertoncello, whose clever touch found Vergos on the edge of the area. His finish doubled their lead.
Preston were never out of the game, though, and reset after half-time. Nahuel Bonada halved the deficit after a rebound in the 56th minute, and equalised not long after, getting on the end of a deflected cross from Jamal Ali.
The game looked like it was headed for extra time. Enter: 20-year-old Daniel Lazarevski. Deep in stoppage time, the former Western United youth player got on the end of the cross to score what is a special winner for the NPL Victoria side.
It is the first time in Hahn Australia Cup history that the Jets have been on the receiving end of a ‘Cupset’. The defending champions will now turn their attention to competing in Asia and the A-League.
Preston will advance to the Round of 16 for the first time.
Lions FC 1-1 (4-2) Perth Glory
Queensland's Lions FC have secured the first 'Cupset' in their history, defeating Perth Glory on penalties.
The match required extra time for the teams to be separated. It was not due to a lack of attacking intent, with 23 shots in total over the first 90 minutes, but some fantastic defending and goalkeeping saw regulation time finish scoreless.
Lions took the lead five minutes into extra time. Jerson Lagos came off the bench to score a stunner from distance, a curling strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
It would have been a worthy winner, but the Glory had plenty of fight left in them. Andriano Labib popped up at the back post to equalise and send the game to penalties.
Goalkeeper Jacson Reilly was the hero for the home side during the shootout. He made consecutive saves, denying Sebastian Despotovski and Arion Sulemani, to open the door for Tommy Jarrard to convert the winner. The former Lions FC junior made no mistake and sent his club to the Round of 16 for the fifth time in their history.
Attention will now turn for the Glory to A-League Men's pre-season.
Cumberland United 0-3 Heidelberg United
Last year’s finalists Heidelberg United have advanced to the Round of 16 after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cumberland United.
Anthony Theodoropoulos got scoring underway within 90 seconds, striking on a tight angle from the far post.
They doubled their lead only four minutes later, with 22-year-old Nicholas Duarte – the striker on loan from the Central Coast Mariners – capitalised on a goalmouth scramble.
The South Australian side hung on for long periods, despite Heidelberg dominating possession and the shot count at half-time, and gave themselves chances to get back into the game.
However, Marcus Humbert made it three shortly into the second half, securing the result.
Cumberland can hold their heads high after appearing in the Hahn Australia Cup national stages for the first time in their history and will hope to take confidence into the remainder of their season.
Bayswater City 1-5 Sydney FC
Tiago Quintal starred for Sydney FC, scoring a hattrick as the A-League Men side proved too good for Bayswater City.
Quintal gave Sydney the lead in the 20th minute. Akol Akon threaded through a ball that found Sydney's star man, and he made no mistake.
Bayswater were able to equalise from a corner but it wasn't long before Sydney regained the lead, Akon once again in the centre of the action, squaring it for Mathias Macallister to tuck home.
The goals kept coming for the Sky Blues after half-time. Quintal's second was a lovely individual effort, driving past several defenders to find space for the shot to give his side some breathing room.
Zac de Jesus scored his first senior goal for Sydney in the 62nd minute after a clinical transition. Minutes later, Quintal made it three, a very similar looking goal to his second putting the result well and truly beyond doubt.
It was a strong showing from Sydney who will want to show that they are once again contenders on this stage.
Matchday 3 of the Hahn Australia Cup 2026 sees A-League Men's teams introduced for the first time and chances for 'Cupsets' aplenty.
Defending champions Newcastle Jets travel to Melbourne to take on the Preston Lions, Lions FC welcome Perth Glory to Brisbane, South Australia's Cumberland United debut against last year's finalists Heidelberg United, and Sydney FC travel to Perth to take on Bayswater City.
Read our preview of the action below.
Preston Lions v Newcastle Jets
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Genis Steel Stadium
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets
The defending Hahn Australia Cup winners, and the A-League Men’s premiers, will face a tough test in the first round against national round debutants Preston Lions.
Preston was a founding member of the Australian Championship last year. They have a rich history in Australian football, taking part in thirteen seasons of the NSL in the 1980s and 1990s.
They are currently fourth in the NPL Victoria competition. Their current squad includes the likes of former A-League Men’s players Stefan Nigro and goalkeeper Ryan Scott.
The Newcastle Jets lifted the trophy last year after previously having struggled in the competition. They have had a revival under Head Coach Mark Milligan over the past few months and will hope to continue that form this year.
They have added experience to the squad this season ahead of being tested in three competitions this year – the Hahn Australia Cup, the A-League Men’s, and the AFC Asian Champions League.
“The competition is meant to be difficult for us… and it is going to test us,” Milligan said pre-match.
Lions FC v Perth Glory
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Spencer Park
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
Tickets
Queensland NPL’s Lions FC will be hoping to cause their first ever ‘Cupset’ against A-League Men’s side Perth Glory.
Lions FC are currently top of the NPL Queensland, one point clear of fellow Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 qualifier Peninsula Power. This is the sixth time they have reached this stage, progressing to the Round of 16 on four previous occasions.
Alexander Fiechtner is their key man. He has scored an astonishing 32 goals in 19 games in the NPL Queensland this season – ten clear of his next closest contender in the Golden Boot race – and will be gearing up to replicate that form against top opposition.
Perth Glory are setting out this year to win their first ever Hahn Australia Cup. They have reached the final twice, in 2014 and 2015, but the A-League Men’s side has never lifted silverware.
They fell at this stage of the competition last season, but will hope to go at least one better this time around to start their campaign on a high.
Cumberland United v Heidelberg United
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEST
Venue: Lady Burra Stadium
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
Tickets
Cumberland United are making their debut in the Hahn Australia Cup, welcoming Victorian side Heidelberg to Lady Burra Stadium.
It was a remarkable journey for Cumberland – a mid-table side in South Australia’s second tier - to reach this stage. They knocked off NPL side Adelaide City in qualifiers and then defeated fellow League 1 side Adelaide Cobras to reach the both the Federation Cup final and the national stages of the Hahn Australia Cup.
They come into this game in good form, having defeated Fulham United 3-1 during the week.
In contrast, Heidelberg United are one of the most established clubs in Victorian football. Their story was one of the most memorable in 2025, reaching the final after producing a remarkable three ‘Cupsets,’ including a 2-0 victory over soon-to-be A-League Men’s champions Auckland United in the semi-final.
They are currently fifth in the NPL Victoria competition but will draw on memories of last year for this season’s Cup campaign.
Bayswater City v Sydney FC
Kick-off: 8.30pm AEST
Venue: Frank Drago Reserve
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
Tickets
Bayswater City return to the national stage for the first time since 2019 with a difficult task on their hands, taking on A-League Men’s side Sydney FC.
Bayswater are currently third in the NPL WA competition. To qualify for the national rounds, they were 3-2 victors against Perth RedStar, goals to Cameron Teece, Brent Quick and Toby Sutton helped them overoame a two-goal deficit in the cup semi-final.
Christopher Jackson is their top scorer in the NPL this season, with 10 goals.
Sydney FC are two-time champions of the competition and have only failed to advance from the Round of 32 twice, in 2019 and 2024. They will hope to be serious contenders for the title in this campaign.
Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo suggested throughout the week that recent arrivals such as Gabriel Popovic, Jake Hollman, Ethan Dyer, Sam Lancaster and Takahiro Sekine could take part in the match.
“It’s a trophy at the end of the day and a potential route into Asia. A cup’s a cup and a competitive game is a game, so we’re looking forward to Tuesday," Kisnorbo said.
