Melbourne Victory visit Western Sydney Wanderers in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 16.
The all-A-League tie, on Saturday, August 8, kick-off 7:30pm AEST, at Marconi Stadium, opens the next stage of the competition after Giovanni Savarese’s team put in a business-like performance to beat Tasmanian team Kingborough Lions United in the previous round.
Wanderers also defeated NPL opposition in the Round of 16, winning 0-2 away at Canberra-based Tigers FC, before playing the role of underdog in a pre-season clash against six-time English champions Chelsea.
This tie, live on Paramount+, could be the first of three successive trips to New South Wales for Victory, with the winner of APIA Leichhardt and Sydney United 58 awaiting in the Quarter-Final, and the qualifying team from Brisbane Roar/Sydney FC versus SD Raiders/Macarthur FC lined up for a potential Semi-Final.
The Boys in Blue
With nine goals scored and zero conceded, the beginning of pre-season has been an unqualified success for Melbourne Victory, who are gelling well under the leadership of Giovanni Savarese.
Of course, there are other factors – beyond what lands in the wins and losses columns – to be considered at this stage of a long campaign, but the recruitment drive bearing fruit already, combined with positive results, should not be overlooked.
In particular, defender Philipp Ziereis, the only new face to start both matches, has stepped in seamlessly after swapping Bavaria for Victoria, and opened the scoring from a well-worked set-piece versus Kingborough Lions United before attacking threats Matthew Grimaldi, Santos and Keegan Jelacic all struck.
The only new signing yet to take to the field is Tom Lockyer; he was, though, an unused substitute in Tasmania, as he embeds himself in the group following his switch from England, and along with the return of Socceroo Nishan Velupillay to training, emphasises the depth of Savarese’s squad.
Round of 32 Squad:
Louis D’ARRIGO, Jason DAVIDSON, Jack DUNCAN, Michael GHOSSAINI, Matthew GRIMALDI, Brendan HAMILL, Joshua INSERRA, Keegan JELACIC, Franco LINO, Tom LOCKYER, Jack MIHAILIDIS, Charles NDUKA, Malik OLUKHALE, Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, Harrison SAWYER, Harrison SHILLINGTON, Xavier STELLA, Jordi VALADON, Jack WARSHAWSKY, Philipp ZIEREIS.
Unavailable: Denis GENREAU (viral infection).
Last time out
Melbourne Victory proved too strong for NPL Tasmania outfit Kingborough Lions United in July’s Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 matchup.
The tie was the Lions’ first appearance in the competition, but Victory’s professionalism overpowered the enthusiasm of their hosts at Kitchen Centre Park, with Philipp Ziereis, from Jason Davidson’s header at a Matthew Grimaldi corner, opening the scoring inside a quarter of an hour.
Provider Grimaldi then inked his name on the scoresheet, tucking away Louis D’Arrigo’s cutback on the stroke of half-time, before Santos’ accurate finish and Keegan Jelacic’s close-range conversion confirmed progression in the second half.
Ufuk Talay made a winning start to life as Western Sydney Wanderers boss, watching his new team beat Tigers FC 0-2 at McKellar Park.
In Australian Capital Territory, there were debuts for Germán Ferreyra, Liam Gillion, Panashe Madanha, and Miguel Di Pizio, with the latter opening the scoring after 67 minutes, picking out the bottom corner.
Just four minutes later, this advantage was doubled. Atiya Waraga delivered low from the right, and Brandon Borrello was on hand to score from close range.
