FFA Cup Quarter Final Preview: Can Avondale pull off another miracle feat against the holders?

It's Quarter Final time in the FFA Cup 2018.

And there's two huge final eight clashes on Wednesday night.

READ: How to get around the FFA Cup Quarter Finals on Wednesday night
UNFORGETTABLE: Five best Quarter Final moments for NPL clubs

It looms as a potentially history breaking night for the competition - and here's our preview of both fixtures!

Avondale v Sydney FC

Avondale might need the footballing gods on their side to beat FFA Cup holders Sydney FC.

But luckily, the NPL Victoria outfit enter this one having already pulled off a minor miracle against Bentleigh Greens on Friday night.

The Avengers booked a NPL Victoria Grand Final date in stunning fashion, coming from 3-1 down in the 113th minute to eventually prevail 4-3.

It was a rare case of lightning striking twice for Anthony Barbieri’s side, who profited from two Bentleigh own goals en route to a famous comeback.

But the Avondale stalwart will have drilled his charges for weeks in preparation for this Sky Blues test and won’t leave anything to chance.

Kamsoba celebrates a goal in this year's FFA Cup.


In Elvis Kamsoba and Stefan Vinni, the NPL Victoria outfit have pace and trickery on the flanks to unsettle Steve Corica’s visitors, who haven’t kept a clean sheet yet in his two-match tenure.

Jonatan Germano should also offer the Victorians an eminent threat from set piece deliveries, where a new look Sky Blues defence could also be exposed.

But Avondale know they’ll have to be at their best to stand a chance of denying Sydney FC passage into the Semi-Final.

Despite early scares, Corica’s men have enjoyed a strangle-hold in both matches against Rockdale and Cairns so far and have created an abundance of chances.

And with Adam Le Fondre and Siem de Jong waiting in the wings for their first Sydney outing, the FFA Cup holders will have their sights fixated on the final four.

UNBELIEVABLE SCENES: Avondale’s unthinkable NPL Victoria comeback
ELVIS: Avondale star dreaming of Hyundai A-League call up
READ: Can Sydney become the FFA Cup's first back-to-back winners?

Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers

The only all-Hyundai A-League Quarter Final encounter has all the ingredients to be a beauty.

There has been a whopping 56 goals in the 18 Hyundai A-League matches between these two sides – an average of 3.1 goals per game.

And with the Wanderers looking shaky in the FFA Cup so far, it could be just what Bruno Fornaroli needs to continue his superb run in the competition.

Fornaroli has been the match-winner in City’s victories over Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets and Markus Babbel’s side will need to marshal the Uruguayan carefully to avoid an early exit.

The match at AAMI Park is also a Quarter Final rematch from two years previous, where City demolished the Wanderers 4-1.

That triumph led to the club’s maiden trophy win and if Warren Joyce’s men can repeat that dose of history on Wednesday, they could be set to go all the way again in 2018.

QUARTER FINAL REMATCH: How pivotal was City’s 2016 triumph over Western Sydney?

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This article was originally published on the Australia Cup website.
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