FFA Cup Brisbane Zone RD4 Preview
Here it is - the round that pits all of the sides from the Brisbane region against one another, from NPL down to Viva Capital League 3.
This round, this season, has greater significance that on recent season as those clubs from the new FQPL competition come and renew some old rivalries. Up for a grabs is a place in Round 5, the Brisbane Zone quarter final stage, with the National Round of 32 just a further three wins away. There are 16 ties being played over the next two weeks but we'll take a look at the first batch of ties starting this evening and concluding next Tuesday night. We'll preview the remaining seven ties later next week...
Thu 29 Mar, 8.00pm KO: Lions FC (NPL) v Caboolture (VCL1) @ Lions Stadium. Last season's Flight Centre Premier League champions fell at the first hurdle in the cup last year, stunned by lower division side Brisbane Knights. Lions now reside in the NPL and are currently sitting pretty in third spot... they will not want a repeat of last year's upset whilst Viva Capital League 1 side Caboolture will be looking to emulate the achievements of Knights from last season. Lions have only lost twice this season in the NPL and both narrow defeats have come at the hands of the two sides above them on the ladder, Western Pride and Olympic FC. It's hard to tell where Caboolture are at. They have a 100% record in league and cup thus far in 2018 but their league successes have all come against bottom four sides whilst they left it late to reach this round of the cup in a 2-0 success over Viva Capital League 2 side Tarragindi last round. They'll be pumped for this clash though, but unless you're a die hard Snakes supporter, it would be hard to see anything but Lions progressing to RD5. Prediction: Lions to work hard for a 4-1 success. Tue 3 Apr, 7.00pm KO: AC Carina (VCL2) v The Lakes (VCL3) @ Brisbane Abruzzo Club. The one remaining Viva Capital League 3 side in the cup, The Lakes, head to the Brisbane Abruzzo Club after Easter as they go in search of a rare foray into the latter Brisbane Zone preliminary rounds of the competition. The strange fact to this tie is that the FFA Cup has been the only competition in which Lakes have completed 90 minutes in thus far, with all of their previous league games affected by adverse weather, meaning they are yet to register a completed game in Viva Capital League 3. That said, the potential is there for Lakes to cause an upset with a number of players in the side this season having arrived from higher levels. Carina progressed to this round at the expense of Jimboomba Utd who they defeated 4-1 in RD3 and their league form sees them undefeated this season, topping the table in Viva Capital League 2. It will be an interesting contest and one that could well be tighter than many think. Prediction: Game time is an issue for Lakes and that could cost them. Carina to head into RD5 with a 3-1 win. Tue 3 Apr, 7.15pm KO: Annerley (VCL1) v Mitchelton (FQPL) @ Edler Oval. Annerley striker Antonio Murray will face his former club in this tie with Annerley hosting FQPL side Mitchelton. Both side's form is indifferent although the hosts have only had two league games to date with others affected by the weather. The Mustangs have only recorded one victory this season in the FQPL and that came against lower placed side Wolves FC, but their defeats have all been by slim margins and they did record a creditable draw at high flying Sunshine Coast Wanderers. It could be a tough task for Annerley with Murray likely to receive close attention from the Mitchelton defence. Prediction: The Mustangs to ease through 4-1. Tue 3 Apr, 7.30pm KO: Peninsula Power (FQPL) v Redlands Utd (NPL) @ AJ Kelly Park. Two sides meeting for the first time in the cup and having both tasted the national rounds in previous years. Who can forget Power's encounter last season against A-League side Melbourne City at a packed Redcliffe Dolphins Stadium and a year before, that most famous of upsets when Redlands defeated the reigning A-League champions from that year Adelaide United, on a cold night at Perry Park in what is without doubt one of the biggest upsets in the FFA Cup to date. So this clash should be an entertaining one with both sides looking to once again feature in the Round of 32 come July. Power are in a rich vein of form, topping the FQPL ladder with a 100% record of 8 wins from 8 games. Redlands form is less convincing with them sitting in the bottom four of the NPL after 8 games. It should make for a close game. Prediction: One for extra time perhaps but with home advantage, Power can get the job done. Power 2-1. Tue 3 Apr, 7.30pm KO: Centenary Stormers (FCBPL) v Holland Park Hawks (FQPL) @ Atthows Park. Flight Centre Brisbane Premier League newcomers Centenary Stormers will face FQPL outfit Holland Park Hawks at 'Tornado Alley' for a spot in RD5. Stormers are yet to be defeated in both league and cup in 2018 but this tie poses a much stiffer test for them compared to last round's 4-2 success over Oxley United. Holland Park's start in the FQPL has been impressive but they have suffered back to back defeats in their last two outings, although those defeats have come at the hands of the top two sides Peninsula Power and Sunshine Coast Wanderers. Stormers will have to be on their game if they are to progress and they will need to contain Hawk's top scorer Marek Madle who's found the back of the net 10 times in their 6 league outings. That in itself could prove difficult. Prediction: Hawks likely to have the edge in this one and reach RD5 with a 3-0 win. Tue 3 Apr, 7.30pm KO: Ipswich Knights (FQPL) v Souths Utd (FQPL) @ Eric Evans Oval. An all FQPL affair with Knights facing Souths United, with both sides having met each other already this season in the league. Souths will no doubt be looking for a repeat of the result from that league clash where they ran out 6-0 winners at Wakerley Park. Knights will need to definitely improve upon that last meeting if they're to make it through. Prediction: Souths to continue with their dominance over Knights 3-1. Tue 3 Apr, 7.30pm KO: Eastern Suburbs (FQPL) v North Star (VCL1) @ Heath Park. Viva Capital League 1 side North Star are the visitors to Heath Park for the RD4 tie against Eastern Suburbs. The FQPL side had had a cagey start to the season and Star will take heart from their opponents most recent outing in which they were beaten by Wolves FC, handing Wolves their first points of the season. Nonetheless, it will be a big ask for North Star to topple the side two tiers above them, but if they remain in the contest until late on, they could steal it. Prediction: If Easts are on their game they should see off North Star without too much worry. 3-0 Easts. Tue 3 Apr, 7.30pm KO: Ipswich City (VCL1) v New Farm Utd (VCL1) @ Sutton Park. The only all Viva Capital League 1 tie of the round which pits the Bulls against New Farm. Both sides will be familiar with each other having shared the points in a 3-3 league encounter earlier in March. Both sides are currently situated mid-table and look relatively evenly matched. New Farm will however be relishing another away cup outing. Their last one resulted in the upset of the year so far when they knocked out Flight Centre Brisbane Premier League leaders Grange Thistle in a penalty shootout. That evening, goalkeeper David Ryan was the hero with two shootout saves prior to scoring the winning penalty to put his side into this round. The midweek trip west could prove troublesome for the visitors but either way, we're guaranteed to see one Viva Capital League 1 side make it through to RD5. Prediction: A close game is expected from this one and probably the toughest one to predict. We'll give United the edge with a 3-2 extra time success. Tue 3 Apr, 8.00pm KO: Olympic FC (NPL) v St George Willawong (VCL1) @ Goodwin Park. Perhaps the tie of the round with regards the crowd expected for this one as Viva Capital League 1 outfit St George Willawong head to NPL league leaders Olympic FC. There will be no escaping the fact that a loyal St George supporter base will be in fine voice at Goodwin Park as they aim to help their side topple the NPL's only undefeated club. It will be a very tough assignment though with Olympic looking the goods in 2018. The hosts have only dropped points in two outings this season, with draws coming against Gold Coast City and Carins FC. St George shouldn't really prove too troubling to the side which boasts former Brisbane Roar defender Shane Stefanutto amongst its ranks. On their day, St George are a tough side to face and they will need to at their very best if they're to get a result from this tie. Prediction: Olympic to be far too good for their opponents. Olympic 4-0.
