There is more than one football “battle of the west’’ taking place this weekend.
Both are big occasions, but soccer’s Australia Cup final between Macarthur FC and Sydney United on Saturday night more than matches the hype of the following day’s NRL grand final.
The Cup is a wonderful concept that gives every little soccer club in Australia a chance to become a giant killer.
And the 2022 version has been just that – after starting with 742 clubs at the beginning of the year it has come down to just two.
The climax could not have been scripted better, with two clubs that are neighbours in South Western Sydney, Macarthur FC and Sydney United 58 FC, to battle it out for the trophy.
One is of course the Bulls, the newest club in the A-League, based at Campbelltown Stadium.
A short drive north on the Hume Highway, at the back of Liverpool, is the home of their opponents, Sydney United.
United play in the semi professional NSW state league, which is called NPL, the tier below the A-League.
But making the Australia Cup final has been such an incredible achievement it has attracted attention from everywhere.
Including rugby league, with legendary coach Wayne Bennett calling the United coach to congratulate him and the club for making the final.
No doubt Sydney United will go into tomorrow night’s game at Commbank Stadium as massive underdogs.
But that’s not going to lull Dwight Yorke, the head coach of the Bulls, into complacency.
As he told the media this morning, he expects Sydney United to go for victory in such a one off game as a Cup final.
But he pointed out that from the point of view of Macarthur FC, the Australia Cup final was also a historic moment for the Bulls.
“We’re still a young club and making the final is a sign of the progress we’re making as a football club,’’ he said.
“This is a big game and we are excited – we’re looking forward to it,’’ Yorke said.
“It’s a big moment for the club and we hope to create some history.’’
More than 11,000 tickets have already been sold for the Australia Cup 2022 Final, with tickets still available at Ticketek and box office walk-ups available on the night.
SNAPSHOT
WHAT Australia Cup 2022 Final
WHO Sydney United 58 FC v Macarthur FC Bulls
WHEN Saturday, 1 October 2022
VENUE CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
REFEREE Daniel Elder
KICK-OFF 7:45pm
Pictured top are Macarthur FC head coach Dwight Yorke and captain Ulises Davila at this morning’s media call at Commbank Stadium.
