The draw for the 2015 FFA Cup has produced several “David and Goliath” encounters, with Northern Territory debutants Darwin Olympic hosting defending champions Adelaide United, and the lowest-ranked club in the draw, Balmain Tigers, playing host to defending A-League champions Melbourne Victory.
The Tigers, from the fourth-tier NSW state division 1, will face the mighty task of shackling Besart Berisha and his fellow Victory stars.
Western Australia’s Sorrento FC and Edgeworth FC, from northern NSW, also face A-League opposition, hosting Sydney FC and Melbourne City respectively.
A-League clubs Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory will square off, with the Central Coast Mariners to face Wellington Phoenix.
Western Sydney Wanderers, the only A-League side to lose to minor opposition last season, have been spared the prospect of more ignominy this season, having drawn John Aloisi’s Brisbane Roar. .
The first of the round of 32 matches will take place on the 28-29 July.
Victorian team Bentleigh Greens memorably made it through to the last four in last year’s inaugural FFA Cup, but failed to qualify for this season’s final rounds.
FFA Cup round of 32:
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar
Croydon Kings (SA) v Lions FC (QLD)
Hume City (VIC) v Brisbane Strikers (QLD)
Blacktown City (NSW) v Metrostars (SA)
Rockdale City Suns (NSW) v Perth SC (WA)
Oakleigh Cannons (VIC) v Far North Queensland FC Heat (QLD)
Palm Beach SC (QLD) v South Melbourne (VIC)
Sydney United 58 (NSW) v South Hobart (TAS)
Gungahlin United (ACT) v Sydney Olympic (NSW)
Broadmeadow Magic (NSW) v Heidelberg United (VIC)
Darwin Olympic (NT) v Adelaide United
Sorrento FC (WA) v Sydney FC
Balmain Tigers (NSW) v Melbourne Victory
Edgeworth FC (NSW) v Melbourne City
