SYDNEY UNITED 58 last week became the first Croatian community backed club to qualify for this year’s Australia Cup Round of 32 phase.
To earn a spot on the national stage, United defeated Granville Rage 1–0 at the Sydney United Sports Centre last Wednesday night.
The winner was scored by ‘super sub’ Mason Wells. He came off the bench to nab the winner in the 67th minute. This goal sent the Sydney club into the Round of 32.
United has now made it to the Round of 32 a record eight times. This has earned the Edensor Park outfit the tag of the most successful National Premier Leagues (NPL) club. It’s a testament to Sydney United’s consistent performance.
Four other Croatian community backed clubs remain in the hunt to secure a berth in the final Round of 32 phase.
Dandenong City – Hajduk
In Victoria, DANDENONG CITY is one step away from joining Sydney United in the national stage. Hajduk is set to host United’s fellow Australian Championship (National Second Division) founding club, South Melbourne. The match is scheduled next Tuesday night at Frank Holohan Reserve. Kick-off is set down for 7:45pm.
Hajduk has never qualified for the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup. An historic win over Hellas at home would earn the south-eastern Melbourne club its first ever appearance on the national stage.
Canberra Croatia
CANBERRA CROATIA is also one step away from qualifying for the national stage. The current NPL ACT league frontrunners take on Queanbeyan City at McKellar Park this Saturday evening at 7:30pm.
Croatia has twice appeared in the Round of 32 stage, in 2018 and 2023. On both occasions, the club from the nation’s capital was eliminated in the first round.
Gold Coast Knights
In Queensland, the GOLD COAST KNIGHTS are away to the Rochedale Rovers on Tuesday June 17. The game at the Rovers’ Underwood Park will determine which of the two clubs will qualify for the Final 32. Both aim to join Sydney United in this elite group.
Should the Knights qualify for the final stage, it will be the fourth time the Croatian community club has managed to do so since the Cup’s inception in 2014.
Adelaide Croatia Raiders
Finally, in South Australia, the ADELAIDE CROATIA RAIDERS will clash with arch rivals FK Beograd on Wednesday 18th of June in the semi-final stage of the South Australian qualifiers.
The Raiders have never qualified for the Round of 32 stage. Should they overcome FK Beograd in a fortnight’s time, the Adelaide Croatian club would secure its first-ever appearance in the national Round of 32 phase. This is a feat accomplished by Sydney United.
The match will be contested at the neutral ServiceFM Stadium, with kick-off set down for 7:30pm.