Fourteen clubs from six zones have qualified for the next stage of the FFA Cup, with 12 teams from the South East and two regional sides still in the hunt for a coveted Round of 32 spot in the national competition.
Gold Coast heavyweights Surfers Paradise Apollo caused the biggest upset of an action-packed long weekend with a comprehensive 4-1 win over National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland side Capalaba FC.
Meanwhile, NPL clubs Gold Coast Knights, Peninsula Power, Olympic FC, Lions FC, Logan Lightning, Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Magpies Crusaders United all progressed to Round 6 of the preliminary rounds of the FFA Cup, while FQPL 1 sides Southside Eagles, Holland Park Hawks, Brisbane City, SWQ Thunder and Ipswich Knights also made it through the next stage of the competition.
But the biggest win of the weekend was at Lex Bell Oval in Surfers Paradise, where Apollo – the defending premiers and champions of the Gold Coast Premier League – outclassed their more fancied opponents on a night to remember.
The hosts opened the scoring in just the second minute thanks to a superb finish by striker Daniel Saric, before three more goals to Teddy Watson, Saric and Brad Scott sealed one of the club’s biggest wins to date.
Elsewhere, there were impressive performances from reigning Brisbane Premier League premiers St George Willawong and Rockhampton side Frenchville FC, who both made their NPL opponents work hard for a result.
Handed perhaps the toughest assignment of the weekend with an away fixture against NPL league-leaders Peninsula Power, St George Willawong went down 1-0 after the Power’s Connor Booth finished off a smart move on the 20-minute mark.
Further north, Frenchville FC held Mackay NPL outfit Magpies Crusaders United scoreless for 90 minutes before succumbing to an extra-time winner by striker Kyren Walters.
Watch the other SEQ Round 5 highlights here.
In the next stage of the FFA Cup, 12 South East Queensland teams will play off for three spots, while Magpies Crusaders United and boom Cairns club Edge Hill United will meet in a winner-takes-all clash to determine which regional side will make it through to the Round of 32.
The draw will be held on Wednesday, 5 May, with more details to be released soon.
The 14 Queensland clubs that remain in the FFA Cup are:
Brisbane:
Brisbane City
Holland Park Hawks
Ipswich Knights
Lions FC
Logan Lightning
Olympic FC
Peninsula Power
Southside Eagles
Gold Coast:
Gold Coast Knights
Surfers Paradise Apollo
South West:
SWQ Thunder
Sunshine Coast:
Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Mackay:
Magpies Crusaders United
North:
Edge Hill United
Image: Kylie Wells
