Oakleigh Cannons vs Sydney Prediction: Sydney FC is favored to win with a predicted score of 3-1 against Oakleigh Cannons in their Australia Cup Round of 32 match.
The Australia Cup Round of 32 kicks off with an intriguing David vs Goliath clash as NPL Victoria side Oakleigh Cannons host A-League giants Sydney FC. This matchup pits the in-form Cannons against a Sky Blues squad eager to start their season on the right foot.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2024 Kickoff: 7:30 PM AEST
Venue: Home of the Matildas, Melbourne
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on 10Play, with pre and post-match coverage from the 10 Football Studios.
Predicted Oakleigh Cannons vs Sydney Lineups and Team News
Oakleigh Cannons
The Cannons enter this match in good form, currently sitting in the top 5 of the NPL Victoria with just 3 games remaining. They’ll be buoyed by their recent 3-1 victory over Melbourne Knights.
Key player Stefan Valentini has shaken off a recent knock and should feature. Former Perth Glory defender Jacob Tratt, a recent Oakleigh signing, is likely to start against his old club.
Predicted Oakleigh Cannons Lineup (4-4-2): Oldfield; Hall, Tratt, Hampson, Boyce; Kubilay, McGilp, Kasumovic, Sinclair; Salmon, Valentini.
Sydney FC
The Sky Blues will be without several key players for this cup tie. New signing Anas Ouahim is set to make his debut, while young goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares could get his first start. Several academy graduates including Joe Lacey, Tiago Quintal, Lachie Middleton and Marin France may also feature as they aim to impress manager Ufuk Talay.
Predicted Sydney FC Lineup: Devenish-Meares; Grant (c), Wilkinson, Donachie, King; Brattan, Yazbek; Ouahim, Le Fondre, Segecic; Alfaro
Unavailable Players and Injury Report
Sydney FC
- Anthony Caceres – Suspended (red card in last season’s A-League semi-final)
- Joe Lolley – Injured (recovering from post-season surgery)
- Patrick Wood – Injured (foot injury, recent surgery)
Oakleigh Cannons
- No major injury concerns reported
Form Guide
Oakleigh Cannons
Last 5 (all competitions): W-L-W-D-W
Sydney FC
Last 5 (A-League): D-L-W-W-L
Head-to-Head
These sides have met just once before, with Oakleigh Cannons claiming a famous 2-1 victory in the 2022 Australia Cup. The NPL side raced to a 2-0 lead before holding off a late Sydney FC fightback.
Key Battle: Match Sharpness vs Quality
The crucial factor in this clash could be match fitness. Oakleigh are in the final stretch of their NPL Victoria campaign and should be sharp. Meanwhile, Sydney FC are still in preseason mode, with their A-League season not kicking off until October.
However, the Sky Blues boast far greater individual quality across the pitch. It will be fascinating to see if Oakleigh’s match rhythm can negate Sydney’s technical superiority.
Managers’ Thoughts
Oakleigh manager Chris Taylor: “We showed two years ago that we can compete with A-League opposition. The boys are confident and we’ll give it everything.”
Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay: “This is our first competitive match and we’re taking it very seriously. Oakleigh are a good side and we’ll need to be at our best.”
Who Will Win?
While Oakleigh will be fired up for a potential giant-killing, Sydney FC’s quality should shine through in the end. Expect a tight first half before the A-League side’s fitness and class takes over.
Oakleigh Cannons vs Sydney Prediction: Oakleigh Cannons 1-3 Sydney FC
This clash promises to be an entertaining start to the Australia Cup Round of 32. Can Oakleigh spring another upset, or will Sydney’s stars prove too strong? The stage is set for an exciting cup tie under the lights in Melbourne.
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