Former NSL champions to meet A-League heavyweights

Former NSL champions South Melbourne will host reigning A-League title-holders Melbourne City in a highly anticipated FFA Cup round of 32 clash.

The battle at Lakseside Stadium is one of several enticing matches that Tuesday night’s draw produced.

Sydney Olympic, another former heavyweight NSL club, will host the A-League’s most successful outfit, Sydney FC.

One all-A-League round of 32 Cup match is guaranteed, with Wellington Phoenix to meet either Newcastle Jets or Western United, who meet each other next month in a Cup qualifier after finishing in the bottom four of the recently completed A-League season.

Which match are you looking forward to most? #FFACup#MagicOfTheCuppic.twitter.com/CB6xqOPynp

The other Cup qualifier is between Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory, with the winner of that match to travel to South Australia to meet another ex-NSL championship-winning club, Adelaide City.

Cup holders Adelaide United will travel to Western Australia to meet NPL club Floreat Athena.

Teams in the round of 32 have been divided into four zones to avoid potential problems caused by border restrictions.

The winner of this year’s Cup will have the chance to qualify for the 2022 AFC Champions League.

FFA Cup Round of 32 draw:

Zone 1: Sydney Olympic v Sydney FC; Broadmeadow Magic v Western Sydney Wanderers; Tigers FC v Apia Leichhardt; Blacktown City v Central Coast Mariners; Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Wollongong Wolves; Newcastle Olympic v Macarthur FC.

Zone 2: Lions FC b Casuarina FC; Edge Hill United v Gold Coast Knights; Peninsula Power v Brisbane Roar.

Zone 3: Newcastle Jets/Western United v Wellington Phoenix; Avondale FC v Devonport City; Hume City v Port Melbourne; South Melbourne v Melbourne City.

Zone 4: ECU Joondalup v Adelaide Olympic; Adelaide City v Perth Glory/Melbourne Victory; Floreat Athena v Adelaide United.

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