It’s a debut appearance for Hellenic on the national stage, who hadn’t been as far as the fifth round of qualifying before this year. The Darwin team is the Northern Territory’s sole representative, but a tricky draw means there won’t be much pressure on to get a good result.
Pitted against their biggest rivals, Darwin Olympic, in the third round of qualifying many expected a close match. It was far from – a 4-0 win for Hellenic securing passage past a tricky opponent and into the next round.
They did away with their NT North opponents University Azzurri 2-0 in the fifth round, before a massive 5-0 win over Palmerston Rovers in the sixth round set up a clash for the final spot in the FFA Cup Round of 32.
Hellenic welcomed the Alice Springs-based Verdi Football Club and sent them home stinging. A 9-0 win, including a hat-trick to 48-year-old Helio Carvalho, secured their maiden Round of 32. In four qualifying games, they didn’t concede once.
Sat atop the league, four points clear of second place and nine points of third, Hellenic would have been confident going into the Round of 32 draw. What would have knocked that confidence is who they drew – Hyundai A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.
For the second year running, NT’s sole representative in the Round of 32 has drawn a Hyundai A-League side.
This article was originally published at: www.theffacup.com.au/news/road-round-32-act-nt-tas-sa-wa
