In a historic night for the Australia Cup, Melbourne City and Macarthur FC were eliminated, leaving only Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory as the remaining A-League teams in the competition. This year's tournament has already set a new record for 'cupsets', with six NPL clubs defeating A-League teams, surpassing the previous record of five from 2025.

Queensland Lions Shine as Giant Killers

The Queensland Lions have emerged as the standout 'giant killers' of the 2026 Australia Cup, having eliminated both Perth Glory and Melbourne City to advance to the quarter-finals. Their impressive run has set them up for a match against either North Sunshine Eagles or Heidelberg United, ensuring they will not face another A-League side before the final. Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are positioned on the opposite side of the bracket.

Unfortunate Turn of Events for Melbourne City

Melbourne City entered the match against the Lions with an unchanged lineup from their previous fixtures. The game began with City controlling much of the early action, but a comical own goal by goalkeeper James Nieuwenhuizen shifted the momentum. A miscommunication with midfielder Besian Kutleshi led to Nieuwenhuizen inadvertently dribbling the ball into his own net, giving the Lions a surprising lead despite having only 37% of the possession in the first half.

Following the own goal, the Lions gained confidence and dominated the second half, registering 11 shots and seven corners. This marked a significant shift in the match, showcasing the Lions' resilience and ability to capitalize on their opportunities.