Canberra Croata have been handed North Eastern Metrostars SC in the Hahn Australia Cup following the Round of 32 draw held on Wednesday evening.
The Capital Football Federation Cup holders, who qualified for the national stage with an epic 2-1 Cup Final victory over Queanbeyan City at McKellar Park earlier this month, were drawn against the NPL South Australian League leaders with Deakin Stadium set to host the clash.
This will be the third foray onto this stage of the competition for the twenty times Federation Cup winners, who are still waiting for a victory in the tournament proper, something they will be keen to ensure occurs on this occasion.
In National Premier League action Croatia have been dominant, eight points clear at the top of the table having scored 47 in eleven matches to date. When you add in the sixteen netted in four cup ties the club have recorded 63 goals in fifteen matches.
Maxx Green leads the way with thirteen goals, followed by Daniel Sparrow on ten and Nick Pratezina on nine. Historically, only Thomas James and Stephen Domenici have scored in the latter stages of the cup competition, registering in defeats to Broadmeadow Magic in 2018, and Mount Druitt Town Rangers in 2023, respectively.
Only two Canberra sides have ever won at this stage of the competition, Tuggeranong United, the only team to do so away from home, who defeated South Hobart on penalties in 2014, and Canberra Olympic who defeated Surfers Paradise Apollo 1-0 at Deakin Stadium two years later.
Canberra Croatia have their sights firmly set on becoming the third.
Full details of the date, venue, and kick-off time will be released shortly.
CANBERRA CROATIA IN THE ROUND OF 32
2018
25 July
Canberra FC 1 (James 12’) Broadmeadow Magic 4 (Bradbury 22’, Majurovski 41’, 47’, Faljkovic 78’)
TEAM: 22. Jordan THURTELL, 2. Marko VRKIC, 3. Daniel SUBASIC, 4. Matt GRBESA, 7. Matt WATERS, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES (17. Aidan BRUNSKILL 86’), 10. Kofi DANNING, 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 12. Michael TAURASI (15. Jordan LAMB 64’), 13. Ross COSTANZO (5. Michael MENSAH 60’)
Head Coach: Paul MACOR
YELLOW CARDS: 3. Daniel SUBASIC 50’
RED CARD: 3. Daniel SUBASIC 77’
Venue: Deakin Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 1,002
2023
4 August
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Monohan-Vaiika 36’, Frangie 76’, 81’) Canberra Croatia 1 (Stephen Domenici 59’)
TEAM: 1. Sam BROWN, 2. Marco GAYER (5. Parris BANGWENI 85’), 3. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 6. Ryan KEIR, 10. Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU, 14. Daniel SUBASIC, 16. Atiya WARAGA (9. Noah VANDERPOL 54’), 17. Jordan LAMB, 18. Franc GRECO (13. Nicholas PRATEZINA 85’), 21. Stephen DOMENICI, 24. Daniel SPARROW
Substitutes not used: 12. Jack LEVERETT, 23. Jason MATESA, 25. Timothy SANTOS
Head Coach: Dean UGRINIC (absent, Andy RAKIC took charge)
YELLOW CARDS: 12. Jack LEVERETT, 23. Jason MATESA, 25. Timothy SANTOS
Venue: Popondetta Park, Mount Druitt, Sydney
Attendance: 594
