By JARROD POTTER
FFA Cup
THE night-time challenges begin for South Springvale in pursuit of returning to the FFA Cup’s Round of 32.
After knocking off Western Suburbs SC and Casey Comets in the earlier phase of the Cup’s Victorian qualifiers, the action switches to mid-week night clashes in pursuit of a spot in the national single-elimination tournament’s final round.
South Springvale hosts Box Hill United, Victorian Round of 32, at Warner Reserve from 7.30pm on Wednesday for a shot in the quarter finals.
“We’re just looking forward to the next round again,” South Springvale coach Bill Lambropoulos said.
“This year we’ve got the pressure and a bit to show that we still deserve to be there.
“However far we go into it we’ve had a taste… I said to them you know what it’s all about, the others don’t, so go out and do your best and if we make (Round of) 32 again that would be fantastic.”
Aris excelled under bright lights in its 2014 FFA Cup qualifying campaign – knocking off Hume City and St Albans Saints in the Victorian qualifiers – before winning its Round of 32 match against Northern New South Wales side South Cardiff.
South Springvale was subsequently eliminated in the FFA Cup Round of 16 by Palm Beach Sharks and finished second in last year’s Dockerty Cup competition – edged out in the final seconds by Melbourne Knights to end the stellar cup run for the lads from Warner Reserve.
In local NPL results, Dandenong Thunder snapped a five-goal losing streak with a 1-0 triumph over Port Melbourne Sharks as Yusuf Ahmed split the sides with a 31st-minute strike.
The Thunder now faces Avondale FC on Saturday afternoon.
Dandenong City split its NPL1 East clash with Sunshine George Cross 1-1 while Springvale White Eagles lost to Moreland Zebras 0-2 before their own FFA Cup clash against Preston White Lions at home on Wednesday night from 7.30pm.
