The Hahn Australia Cup continued to deliver more excitement in the Round of 32, with late drama and plenty of goal action.
Fremantle City edged past Maitland in a late thriller, while A-League outfits Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur made their way into the next round comfortably, with wins over Tigers and University Azzurri, respectively.
In the story of the night, Sydney United 58 pushed A-League side Central Coast Mariners all the way to a penalty shootout and prevailed to claim another scalp in their Cup history.
Maitland 1 Fremantle City 2
Fremantle City’s inaugural run in the Hahn Australia Cup will continue after a dramatic and late come-from-behind win over Maitland.
The first half proved a tense affair, but neither team could land a telling blow on their opponents heading into the sheds.
The home side snatched the lead in the 72nd minute, in a pivotal moment in the game.
Daniel McFarlane whipped in a right-wing cross for Scott Wara, who provided a towering header to steer the ball into the right of the goal.
Just when it looked like Maitland would advance, the visitors fought back and restored parity in the 88th minute.
Taj Bingwa sent a looping cross from the right for Michael Domfeh, who unorthodoxly executed a volley that found its way in.
Less than two minutes later, the Western Australia side turned the scoreline around with a stunning strike.
A free-kick from inside their own half was fired towards the edge of the box, where it dropped into the path of Iljas Ahmedov, who delivered an audacious volley that looped into the goal.
The special moment from Ahmedov was enough to confirm Fremantle City's place in the next round.
Sydney United 1 (11) Central Coast Mariners 1 (10)
Sydney United 58 are through to the Round of 16 as they produced another special Cupset, downing Central Coast Mariners on penalties.
United 58 kept their opponents scoreless in the first half, despite Central Coast keeping a fair chunk of the ball.
The historic NPL NSW club remained in with a chance of causing another Cupset.
The Mariners broke the hosts’ resistance just before the hour mark.
Bailey Brandtman nodded over the top for Oli Lavale to run onto and fire the visitors into the lead.
United 58 remained in the game and battled to an equaliser in the dying embers.
Mason Wells went down in the box under the challenge of Noah McCann, seeing a penalty awarded.
Michael Krslovic took responsibility and blasted the ball into the top right corner to set the scores level, and push the game into extra time.
United 58 continued to put their opponents under pressure with a series of shooting chances in extra time, but the teams required a penalty shootout to find a winner.
The team's were locked at 10-10 in an especially long shootout, when goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic stepped up for the hosts and scored.
Callum McCaskey looked to do the same for Central Coast, but saw his effort cannon into the right post, and confirm United 58's place in the Round of 16.
Tigers 0 Western Sydney Wanderers 2
Western Sydney Wanderers produced a well-managed 2-0 win against the Canberra-based Tigers.
The Wanderers held the majority of the ball and had the most shots in the first half as they sought a fast start to the contest.
They could not make it count as they went into halftime level with their hosts.
The away side finally broke Tigers’ resistance with a quick-fire double after the hour mark.
Captain Brandon Borrello picked out Miguel Di Pizio, who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area 67 minutes in.
Just four minutes later, Borrello turned scorer, converting a simple effort from point-blank range, courtesy of Atiya Waraga’s pass, following a superbly-worked team move.
Two goals were enough for the Wanderers to move on in the Cup.
Azzurri United 0 Macarthur FC 3
Macarthur advanced through to the Round of 16 in convincing fashion, with a 3-0 win against Azzurri United.
The Bulls wasted no time in asserting their authority over their opponents, and opened the scoring just five minutes in.
Michael Pratezina ran onto a half-cleared right-sided cross and drilled an accurate finish from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner.
The two-time winners doubled their advantage on the hour mark through Ben Gibson, who smartly turned in a left-sided delivery.
Macarthur settled the match in the 80th minute, when Oliver Randazzo slipped Connor Pain in behind, with the experienced winger providing a composed finish off the bench.
Matchday 4 of the Hahn Australia Cup 2026 gets underway on Wednesday evening, with three more A-League Men's sides - the Central Coast Mariners, the Western Sydney Wanderers and two-time winners Macarthur FC - in action.
Read our preview below.
Sydney United 58 FC v Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Sydney United Sports Centre
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets
Sydney United 58 FC get their Hahn Australia Cup campaign underway against A-League Men’s side Central Coast Mariners.
Finalists in 2022, Sydney United have a competitive history in the Cup. They have only fallen in the Round of 32 once – back in 2016 – in the eight times they have qualified for the national stage.
They have had a good season, third in the NPL NSW as part of a runaway top three including APIA and Marconi Stallions. If there is one criticism of their recent form, however, it is in front of goal; they have only scored twice once in their last nine NPL fixtures.
Former Mariners players Adam Pavlesic and Michael Glassock feature for Sydney United, while Central Coast-born winger Mason Wells will be a key attacking threat.
The Mariners, meanwhile, are still looking for their first ever Hahn Australia Cup title.
Youngster Haine Eames recently signed a long-term deal while fresh faces such as Kristian Popovic and Noah McCann are set to debut in the fixture.
The Central Coast have fallen at this stage on seven occasions and have been on the receiving end of three ‘Cupsets’.
Maitland FC v Fremantle City FC
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Maitland Regional Sportsground
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
Tickets
Northern NSW’s Maitland FC hosts Western Australia’s Fremantle City in a fascinating contest.
It is Maitland’s second appearance on the national stage of the Hahn Australia Cup, and first since 2019. They booked their place in the Round of 32 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Kahibah FC in the qualifiers.
They are in fantastic form, having won their last six NPL Men’s games, and are out to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history.
Fremantle City make their debut in the national rounds with a massive task on their hands, given the travel time and Maitland’s form. However, the team currently in fourth in the WA NPL will back themselves to create history on Wednesday evening.
They defeated Olympic Kingsway 3-1 in the State Cup semi-final to qualify.
Tigers FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: McKellar Park
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
Tickets
Capital Football’s Tigers FC welcomes A-League opposition Western Sydney Wanderers to Canberra in their first Hahn Australia Cup national stage tie in five years.
Tigers have been on this stage twice, in 2019 and 2021. They defeated Canberra Croatia in the 2026 Federation Cup final to reach the Round of 32. They have developed a reputation as a ‘finals specialist’ in the ACT and will hope to bring their prowess in one-off games to McKellar Park.
Aiden Milicevic is the NPLM top scorer and will be a player to watch for the Tigers.
The Wanderers have never lifted the Hahn Australia Cup but are also relatively consistent performers at this stage, having only fallen once in the Round of 32, all the way back in 2014.
It is the beginning of a new campaign for the Wanderers that will see fresh faces introduced and mainstays tested for the first time this season.
Azzurri United FC v Macarthur FC
Kick-off: 8pm AEST
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium
Broadcast: 10.com.au, YouTube
The Hahn Australia Cup returns to Darwin as Azzurri United host Macarthur FC.
Azzurri face the challenge of A-League Men’s opposition for their Hahn Australia Cup debut. They defeated Port Darwin 6-1 in qualifiers to reach this stage.
They have had a fantastic season in the NT Premier League, currently nine points clear top of the table. Julian Smith is leading the golden boot race with 16 strikes so far.
Macarthur have become somewhat of a Hahn Australia Cup specialist in their years in the competition, lifting the trophy twice in five attempts. The one time that they were defeated at this stage was in 2023, when they were dealt a ‘Cupset’ by Campbelltown City.
Like other A-League clubs, they’ll be hoping to give a mix of experience and youth game time, and start their campaign on a high in the Darwin heat.
