Cup tosses up family rivalry in round of 16

THE FFA Cup is set to deliver its latest piece of magc, with coaching brothers to square off following a freakish draw.

Grae Piddick (Gold Coast City) and younger brother Adam (Moreton Bay) will face off in the knockout competition’s round of 16 after a twist of fate better than any novel.

The brothers, who go headto-head in the NPL, will now have a golden chance to progress to the Cup’s quarter-final stage.

“Obviously there’s a chance of us playing Moreton Bay United in the next round,” Grae told the Bulletin earlier this week.

“But I really hope we don’t run into each other – not until a semi or the final anyway.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar insist they treat the FFA Cup as more than glorified trial games despite a sorry display against a rampant Victory.

The 5-1 thrashing of the Roar at Perry Park on Wednesday night continued Brisbane’s dismal Cup record.

For three years straight the Roar have been eliminated at the round-of-32 stage of the Cup, and have reached the last 16 just once since the competition’s inception in 2014.

While the Victory on Wednesday fielded a near fullstrength side the Roar line-up very much had an inexperienced and makeshift feel to it – which proved to be the case.

Marquee man Massimo Maccarone came on with half an hour left with the Victory leading 4-0, while other signings Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Corey Gameiro did not play due to fitness concerns.

Roar football director Craig Moore yesterday said Aloisi had a “sleepless night” as he went over the match video.

“We’re all disappointed,” Moore said.

“It’s still early in the preseason but there’s no doubt they had the edge on us.”

The Roar are back in action next Friday in a behind-closeddoors trial against fellow ALeague club Western Sydney at Robina.

Moore is hopeful of securing a match later this month on the Gold Coast against the visiting Chinese Olympic team.