It’s that time again! The FFA Cup is back in full swing this week with seven games to be played across South East Queensland and regional Queensland, as teams fight for a place in Round 7 of the FFA Cup preliminary rounds.
Brisbane Strikers are already through to the final preliminary round after their 4-1 win over Eastern Suburbs on May 14.
There are still five National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland teams looking to progress to the next round, while four Gold Coast Premier League sides, two Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) teams and four regional teams vie for a spot in the final stage of Queensland qualifiers.
Read the previews of the SEQ Round 6 games and the regional qualification pathway below.
South East Queensland Round 6 Preview:
Surfers Paradise Apollo v Moreton Bay United
Friday, 24 May, 7:45pm
Lex Bell Oval
After knocking out Brisbane Premier League side Grange Thistle in Round 5, Surfers Paradise Apollo come face-to-face with NPL Queensland side Moreton Bay United. The Jets were lucky to escape Logan Metro in the same round, netting once in a tough encounter to secure their passage into Round 6. Surfers Paradise Apollo currently sit second in the Gold Coast Premier League, while Moreton Bay are in sixth after a season of mixed results.
FULL-TIME SCORE:
Surfers Paradise Apollo 3-1 Moreton Bay United
Gold Coast Knights v Peninsula Power
Friday, 24 May, 7:45pm
Croatian Sports Centre
Watch LIVE on FQ Facebook
It’s a highly anticipated clash between two NPL Queensland heavyweights. Power left it late to secure their win last round after Brisbane City pushed them all the way to penalties in Round 5, while Knights came away with a 3-1 win over FQPL side Sunshine Coast Wanderers. The two teams last met in Round 6 of the NPL Queensland, where Power came from behind to snatch a 2-1 win. This blockbuster will be livestreamed on the FQ Facebook page.
FULL-TIME SCORE:
Gold Coast Knights 4-2 Peninsula Power
Burleigh Heads SC v Logan Lightning
Saturday, 25 May, 7pm
Pizzey Park
Two top of the table sides will come face to face on Saturday night. Burleigh are undefeated this season in the Gold Coast Premier League, and in Round 5 of the FFA Cup produced a cupset to beat NPL Queensland side Western Pride 3-1. FQPL ladder leaders Logan Lightning are also in hot form, currently on a six-game winning streak in their league. Logan bowed out of the Cup in Round 6 last year at the hands of Brisbane City, while Burleigh have never made it this far previously and will be in new territory coming into the Round 6 clash.
FULL-TIME SCORE:
Burleigh Heads SC 2-3 Logan Lightning
Olympic FC v Palm Beach
Monday, 27 May, 8pm
Goodwin Park
This will be a re-match of the 2014 NPL Queensland Grand Final, which saw Palm Beach claim the Championship with a 3-2 win. In the same year both sides made an appearance in the inaugural FFA Cup with Palm Beach making it all the way to the quarter-finals. At the moment, Palm Beach sit sixth on the Gold Coast Premier League ladder. For Olympic, they will be looking for a repeat of their 2018 run where they made the Round of 32. It’s also a special match for Chris Lucas, who previously played with Palm Beach but is now with Olympic.
Holland Park Hawks v Coomera Colts
Thursday, 28 May, 8pm
Whites Hill Reserve
Holland Park Hawks, who sit bottom of the FQPL table with just two wins for the season so far, have overcome Brisbane Athletic and Robina City SC. Hawks now face Gold Coast Premier League side Coomera Colts, who are having their best run in the competition to date. Despite being down 4-1 at halftime, Coomera levelled their Round 5 game at 5-5 to force extra time, netting a free kick to knock NPL Queensland side Redlands United out in one of the greatest comebacks in FFA Cup history.
The winners of this round will advance to the final preliminary matches in Round 7, before the Round of 32 takes place.
Regional Round 6 Preview:
In Round 5 of the FFA Cup, Bluebirds United FC defeated Sunbury Blues FC to progress to Round 6, while NPL Queensland side Magpies Crusaders defeated Magpies FC last night in their Round 5 clash.
Bluebirds United v Magpies Crusaders
Saturday, 25 May, 7pm
Webber Park
In the Central Queensland and Wide Bay pathway, CQ Premier League side Bluebirds United will host NPL Queensland side Magpies Crusaders for a place in the next round. Currently sitting third on the CQ Premier League ladder after five matches, Bluebirds will be looking to cause a cupset against the highly fancied Magpies Crusaders who sit 13th in the NPL.
FULL-TIME SCORE:
Bluebirds United 0-4 Magpies Crusaders
Brothers Townsville v Leichhardt FC
Saturday, 25 May, 6pm
High Vista Park
Brothers Townsville will take on Leichhardt FC in Round 6 of the North Queensland and Far North Queensland qualification pathway. Currently top of the North Queensland Premier League, Brothes Townsville will host Cairns based side Leichhardt FC, who sit fourth in the FNQ Premier League. The winner of this match will host the winner between Bluebirds United and Magpies Crusaders, for a place in the Round of 32.
FULL-TIME SCORE:
Brothers Townsville 7-0 Leichhardt FC
