State Knockout Cup Quarter-Final Preview
It's time for the final six in Australia's largest knockout cup.
The FFV State Knockout Cup Quarter-Finals are once again being run in a round robin format this year which will see two pools of three clubs fight it out for a spot in the semi-finals.
The teams in each pool with play each other once with the top two teams in each pool going through to the semi-finals. There will be no draws with each match going through extra time and penalties if required to find a winner.
The group format is necessary after Hyundai A-League clubs Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory declined to participate.
Like the FFV State Knockout Cup Facebook page for the latest updates and match results.
Fixture
Pool A
Port Melbourne Sharks v Pascoe Vale, Wed 25 July 7:30pm
Pascoe Vale v Sunshine George Cross, Tue 31 July TBC
Sunshine George Cross v Port Melbourne Sharks, Tue 7 August TBC
Pool B
Heidelberg United v Dandenong Thunder, Tue 24 July 7:30pm
Dandenong Thunder v Cobram Victory, Tue 31 July TBC
Cobram Victory v Heidelberg United, Tue 7 August TBC
Quarter Finals Group Stage
Heidelberg United v Dandenong Thunder – Pool B
Tuesday 24 July 7:30pm, Olympic Village
League and Position
Heidelberg United: Victorian Premier League, 12th – 1st tier
Dandenong Thunder: Victorian Premier League, 1st – 1st tier
League Form – latest results on right
Heidelberg United: LLLLD
Dandenong Thunder: DLWLW
2012 Cup Run
Heidelberg United: La Trobe University 5-0 (State League Two N/W), Diamond Valley United 4-2 (State League Two S/E), Melbourne Knights 2-1 (Victorian Premier League)
Dandenong Thunder: Peninsula Strikers 3-1 (State League Three S/E), Springvale White Eagles 10-1 (State League One), Altona Magic 4-0 (State League One)
Cup History
Heidelberg United best: Runners-up x2 (1973, 1993)
Dandenong Thunder best: Round Six (2011)
Dandenong will go into this match as huge favourites as they sit pretty on the top of the Victorian Premier League ladder while Heidelberg wallow at the foot of the table, counting down the weeks until what looks like a certain relegation.
On the other hand, with their league season in tatters, it means Heidelberg can focus solely on the cup to claim both silverware and prize money to balance out what has been a disappointing year. With the Thunder still having to balance a VPL title challenge with this cup campaign – this could be a great opportunity for the Bergers to claim a surprise scalp.
Port Melbourne Sharks v Pascoe Vale – Pool A
Wednesday 25 July 7:30pm, SS Anderson Oval
League and Position
Port Melbourne: State League One, 2nd – 2nd tier
Pascoe Vale: State League One, 1st – 2nd tier
League Form - latest results on right
Port Melbourne: WWWLD
Pascoe Vale: WDWDL
2012 Cup Run
Port Melbourne Sharks: Yarraville 6-0 (State League Three N/W), South Melbourne 2-1 (Victorian Premier League), Green Gully Cavaliers 4-0 (Victorian Premier League)
Pascoe Vale: Sunbury United 2-0 (State League Three N/W), Hume City 5-0 (Victorian Premier League), Morwell Pegasus 3-0 (State League Two S/E)
Cup History
Port Melbourne best: Round Six (2011)
Pascoe Vale best: Quarter Final (2004)
It’s all to play for in Pool A with each of the three clubs coming from State League One. One win could be enough to secure a place in the semi-finals so the first match will be crucial to set the tone for the rest of the matches.
These two sides are second and first in State League One respectively, and coincidentally they are playing each other again in the league on Friday night. With Port Melbourne having already played a match on Monday night, and with the prospect of three matches five days – it will be interesting to see if they go all out to win this match with so much on the line on Friday night.
