Hume City vs Brisbane Strikers
Wednesday 29 July, 7.30PM – Broadmeadows Valley Park
One of three Queensland teams in the Cup to play Victorian opposition, the former NSL club now plies its trade in the NPL.
After being formed in 1994, the Strikers won the NSL in 1997 under player-coach Frank Farina, drawing 40,000 to the grand final against Sydney United.
They reached the Round of 16 last year before succumbing to Adelaide City.
Broadmeadow Magic vs Heidelberg United
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Broadmeadow Magic was founded by Macedonian migrants in 1966 as Newcastle Macedonia FC, with next year marking the club’s 50 year anniversary.
One of the strongest clubs in New South Wales’ Hunter region, Broadmeadow is a seven time winner of the Northern NSW State Football League (including a hat-trick between 2011-13), now competing in the Northern NSW NPL.
They were eliminated at the same stage last year by Brisbane Strikers.
Palm Beach Sharks vs South Melbourne
Wednesday, 29 July, 7.30PM – Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Palm Beach is one of Gold Coast’s premier clubs, the former home of Socceroos Tommy Oar and Mitch Nichols, who will also celebrate their 50th anniversary next year.
Chris Lucas, Matt Thurtell and Troy Ruthven all played for the NPL Queensland champions last year, now helping Benleigh Greens to top spot in NPL Victoria this season.
The Sharks reached the Round of 8 last year, knocking out South Springvale before losing to Central Coast Mariners.
Balmain Tigers vs Melbourne Victory
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The winner of the 2013 State League 1 title was founded by British migrants in 1986, who invited other Britons living in Australia to play in a six-a-side football competition, before lots of interest saw the club expand.
The tigers will be trying to emulate the fairytale run of the likes of South Springvale before them as a non-NPL team in competition, but will be up against it when they face A-League champions Melbourne Victory.
Edgeworth Eagles vs Melbourne City
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The Eagles most recently won the NBN State Football League in 2010 and 2003, with a further successful spell in the competition in the late 1990’s, and now compete in the Northern NSW NPL.
They are the junior club of Daniel McBreen, who was the 2012-13 A-League champion and Golden Boot winner with Central Coast Mariners.
Oakleigh Cannons vs FNQ Heat
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The Cairns-based club are a former feeder team of the now-defunct A-League club North Queensland Fury, and were eliminated in the FFA Cup Round of 32 by Sydney United last year.
An interesting connection between the two clubs is current FNQ and former Oakleigh Cannons player Alex Smith, who enjoyed a two year stint with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League between 2011-13.
Ironically, Smith’s Wellington contract came about as a result of current Oakleigh man Mirjan Pavlovic’s injury at the club.