Canberra Croatia have been drawn away against Mount Druitt Town Rangers in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
The Capital Football Australia Cup winners, who came through a tough pathway defeating Tigers FC, Monaro Panthers, Gungahlin United, and Canberra Olympic to reach this stage, will travel to Sydney for the clash following the draw on Wednesday evening.
This will be the second time that Croatia has taken part in the Round of 32, having first tasted the national stage in 2018 when they were defeated by Broadmeadow Magic from Northern New South Wales at Deakin Stadium.
Thomas James scored for Croatia, who were named Canberra FC back then, on that occasion, the League Champions only having a trio of players surviving from that line-up that could be selected in the forthcoming cup-tie, namely central defenders Daniel Subasic and Matt Grbesa, alongside Jordan Lamb, the latter coming off the bench against Magic.
There have been only two successes at this stage for Canberra clubs, Tuggeranong United setting the mold with the only away win in the Round of 32, a penalty shoot-out victory in Tasmania over South Hobart after a Zac Munster goal had forced extra-time.
Canberra Olympic are the only other side to emerge victorious from this Round, they saw off Surfers Paradise Apollo courtesy of a first-half goal from striker Philippe Bernabo-Madrid at Canberra Croatia’s home ground of Deakin Stadium.
Croatia join Olympic and Tigers FC as multiple entrants representing Capital Football, Gungahlin United, Tuggeranong, and Monaro Panthers the others to taste the heady heights, albeit between them those teams have only managed to rack up four wins (Olympic three success, Tuggeranong one) and score six goals.
The Australia Cup, formerly known as the FFA Cup, commenced in 2014 and has been won three times by Adelaide United, and twice by Melbourne Victory. Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Macarthur FC are the only other teams to lift the fabled silverware.
There’s no doubt that the squad, melded by Dean Ugrinic and his coaching staff, are up for the challenge that presents itself.
The journey to glory starts here.
#TheMagicOfTheCup