Auckland FC's Guillermo May will face a different challenge against South Melbourne in the Australia Cup. Photo: Mark Evans / www.photosport.nz
Auckland FC's Australia Cup clash with South Melbourne on Wednesday takes on a different tone given the current state of the A-League.
With Western United having their A-League licence revoked last week for financial reasons, pending appeal, South Melbourne will have even more motivation to knock over an A-League opponent.
South Melbourne have been vying for a place in the A-League for years. The club has had a bids for an A-League licence turned down more than once - most recently 2018, when they lost out to Western United - and despite currently contesting the National Premier Leagues Victoria, they have ambitions of playing in a different competition.
Western United are on the brink of expulsion from the A-League. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Based in Albert Park, South Melbourne is one of 24 clubs to register an interest in playing in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League and is also part of the Australian Championship, a second-tier national competition kicking off in October.
Auckland FC will be South Melbourne's third A-League opponent in the Australia Cup in 12 months. Last year South Melbourne defeated Wellington Phoenix 1-0 in the round of 32, before falling to Macarthur FC 1-0 in the semifinals.
South Melbourne head into the game against Auckland with a short turnaround, after winning the Dockerty Cup final on Saturday.
Auckland coach Steve Corica has done his homework on them.
"Normally, the Melbourne teams are quite tough. They're good teams, I've seen that in the past, so we treat them with respect.
"[South Melbourne] are a big club, so it's going to be another tough test for us and a good challenge as well. They're a good team, they started off very slowly this season, but they've changed coaches and they've become a lot stronger since the new coach has come in.
"We've just got to turn up and make sure we're fully ready for that opportunity, and hopefully we get through."
If Auckland FC beat South Melbourne, they will play a quarterfinal tie against either Sydney United 58 or A-League rivals Sydney FC.
Wellington Phoenix play Nunawading City on Sunday for a place in the quarterfinals of the Australia Cup.
Nunawading City are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the Cup. They play in VPL 2, the third division of men's football in Victoria.
Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano said his side were not thinking it would be an "easy game".
"They're going to be pumped for the game. The fact is, if they get a goal early or we get a player sent off, it changes the dynamic.
"Cup competition always throws up upsets, so that's something we have to be mindful of."
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