Matchday Two of the Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 provided a series of close calls for A-Leagues sides against member federation teams.
Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Adelaide United all advanced with narrow scorelines, while Lions FC ran out with a convincing win in rainy Perth.
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Blacktown City FC - 2 (Travis MAJOR 71’, Reuben AWARITEFE 119’)
Adelaide United FC - 3 (Stefan MAUK 35’, Yaya DUKULY 97’, Luka JOVANOVIC 107’)
Despite City’s competitive start, they found themselves behind 35 minutes in.
Adelaide combined well on the left before Stefan Mauk met Ryan Kitto’s cutback and slotted a simple finish in.
City began strong at the start of the second period, forcing Newcastle goalkeeper Ryan Scott into a couple of crucial stops before the hour mark.
The hosts made their pressure count in the 71st minute, as Tyren Burnie clipped in a right-sided cross that found Travis Major at the far post, who rose high and sent in a header.
Blacktown remained a threat for the rest of regular time, but they couldn’t find a goal to take the lead - leaving the teams with extra time to play.
The visitors retook the lead in the 98th minute when Yaya Dukuly executed a superb half-volley from a tight angle in the left of the box that bulged in the right of the goal.
United added another goal 10 minutes later.
City defender Nick O’Brien was caught on the ball by Austin Ayoubi, who ran forward and passed it to Luke Jovanovic to score a simple goal.
Blacktown City made it a nervy final few minutes when Reuben Awaritefe slid in to pull a goal back for the home side.
However, Adelaide survived those late moments to claim a place in the Round of 16.
Brisbane City FC - 1 (Noah MAIERONI 78’)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC - 2 (Gabriel CLEUR 4’, Alexander BADOLATO 8’)
Western Sydney made a fast start to the match, earning a two-goal advantage within the first 10 minutes.
In the fourth minute, Gabriel Cleur profited from the aftermath of a corner to stab the ball in from point-blank range.
Four minutes later, a neat right-sided move concluded with the ball at Alexander Badolato’s feet. The 19-year-old kept his composure and blasted a strike into the roof of the net.
Western Sydney went into the break with their commanding lead intact.
However, City halved the deficit in the 78th minute when Noah Maieroni’s volley from the edge of the box took a deflection and spun into the right of the goal.
City’s pressure continued into stoppage time, and a couple of late chances came close to getting them on level terms.
Lawrence Thomas was equal to the challenge and the Wanderers held on to book their place in the next round.
Rockdale Ilinden FC - 1 (Bai ANTONIOU 30’)
Newcastle Jets FC - 2 (Justin VIDIC 11’ 45+3’)
The Jets silenced the Ilinden home crowd early on, firing in the opener in 11 minutes.
Clayton Taylor’s left-sided cross bobbled to Justin Vidic, where the striker made room for a shot in the box and drilled an effort inside the right post.
Rockdale battled back to equalise half an hour in. Alec Urosevski mazed down the right wing and had the vision to pick out Bai Antoniou to his left in the box, who converted from close in.
The visitors re-established their lead on the stroke of halftime through Vidic’s second goal.
The 20-year-old with a typical striker’s finish anticipating the ball in the box to score an important one as the teams went into the sheds.
Rockdale looked to push on and get back into the game in the second half, but the Jets’ single-goal lead was enough to get them into the Round of 16.
Perth Redstar FC - 1 (Matthew GEORGE 35’)
Lions FC - 4 (Andy PENGELLY 42’, Jake MINETT 45+5’, Luke BRODERICK 58’, Alexander FIECHTNER 71’)
The late kick-off was greeted with a soaking downpour throughout the clash.
The home side grabbed the lead with 10 regular first-half minutes to play when Matthew George squeezed a shot in from a tight angle in the right of the area.
The Lions restored parity in the 42nd minute through Andy Pengelly, who turned in a poacher’s finish from close range following a spilt cross.
The visitors notched their second deep into stoppage time as Jake Minett glanced a header in at the near post following a corner to score a big goal ahead of halftime.
The torrential conditions continued into the second period, but Lions’ productive play carried on as well.
The side added a third goal just before the hour mark courtesy of Luke Broderick; the substitute performed a spectacular overhead kick from inside the area that found the right side of the net.
Lions' night got better 71 minutes in as Alexander Fiechtner hit a left-footed curler from outside the box that beat Redstar’s former A-Leagues stopper Liam Reddy.
The away side asserted their control over the match in what remained to earn their place in the next stage of the Cup.
