Image: The Sporting WALL
Pascoe Vale became the highest profile victim of the fourth round of the FFA Cup in Victoria, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of State League 3 side Knox City, embodying the type of upset that often defines the ‘magic of the cup’.
The result was made all the more incredible given Pascoe Vale’s league form in the NPL has seen them in the top six, but now they’re the only top-flight club to lose out to a state league side – State 3 at that. Unable to score throughout the 90 away at Egan Lee Reserve, they went down to a 90th minute strike. Knox City of course aren’t completely unfamiliar with the pinnacle of Victorian football’s heirarchy, playing in the VPL in 2004, though it’s been a long time between drinks for the now fifth-tier club.
They’re the other SL3 side to make it through after Monbulk Rangers took out SL4’s Mill Park.
Of the state league sides to knock out NPL2 opposition, SL2 side North Caulfield had one of the other biggest upsets, victorious away to the Goulburn Valley Suns. SL1’s Banyule City took out Whittlesea Ranges while the ambitious Altona Magic – hotly tipped for promotion into NPL2 – knocked out NPL2 strugglers Bendigo City.
Within the NPL, Northcote City defeated top-flight club North Geelong Warriors, though with their respective forms it may not have been all that surprising at John Cain Memorial Reserve. Another top-flight struggler in NPL was defeated by a second-division side when Moreland City – who in the league came off a shock loss to Murray United – knocked out St Albans Saints.
Other top-flight clubs didn’t have it all their way, Avondale needing penalties at 0-0 to knock out Sunshine, and Bentleigh Greens needing added time to win 2-0 over Dandenong Thunder.
Regional sides took a big hit, with both Geelong clubs, Goulburn Valley Suns, Murray United, Bendigo City, Warragul United and Ballarat City all bowing out – Morwell Pegasus remain, however.
In terms of personal performances, there were three hat-tricks: Nick Hegarty, Damian Iaconis, James Papadimitriou, Mitch Cooper and Diellon Memishi.
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Progressing through to Round 5 (Round of 32)
NPL: Port Melbourne Sharks, Kingston City, Avondale FC, South Melbourne, Hume City, Green Gully, Oakleigh Cannons, Melbourne Knights, Bulleen Lions, Bentleigh Greens, Heidelberg United
NPL2: Richmond SC, Northcote City, Moreland City, Dandenong City, Box Hill United, Werribee City, Nunawading City
SL1: Banyule City, Preston Lions, Altona Magic, Mooroolbark, North Sunshine Eagles, South Springvale, Morwell Pegasus
SL2: Western Suburbs, Altona City, North Caulfield FC, Essendon United, Hume United
SL3: Monbulk Rangers, Knox City
READ MORE > FFA Cup Round 4: Full wrap