Two A-League clubs have been sent packing on a shocking evening of Australia Cup action, continuing a disastrous run for the country’s most powerful teams.
Melbourne City and Macarthur FC – the former an A-League finalist from the 2025/26 season – were defeated by far lower-ranked opposition in the Round of 16 at the tournament, becoming the seventh and eighth top-tier teams to be eliminated.
Extraordinarily, an own goal would prove a disastrous blow in both.
A humiliating blunder at the back sparked City’s 2-0 loss to NPL Queensland club Lions FC in Brisbane, while a deflection in at the far post off a cross saw Macarthur give up a 1-0 lead deep into the second half of extra time to lose on penalties in Moorebank.
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The results guarantee a non-A-League team in the tournament final for the second consecutive season, after Heidelberg United’s fairytale run to the decider last year saw them eliminate Western Sydney Wanderers, Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC before falling to Newcastle Jets.
City goalkeeper James Nieuwenhuizen, who played two A-League match in 2025/26, extraordinarily failed to control a straightforward pass back to hand Lions a 1-0 lead.
Playing a second-tier squad, City paid the ultimate price, with Mitch Hore’s goal in the 61st minute sealing the stunning upset.
Commentator and former A-League Women player Grace Gill said on Paramount said the inexperienced team was no excuse for the A-League power.
“This is a younger City team – but when you look at their line-up, they are established A-League players,” she said.
“Even though they are 18, 19 years old, these are names we know. I think there will be a little bit of looking in the mirror at themselves and reflecting on what they could’ve done better.”
The shock win follows Lions’ penalty shootout win over another A-League club in Perth Glory in the Round of 32.
They await either North Sunshine Eagles or Heidelberg United in the quarter-finals, with all A-League teams on their side of the draw eliminated.
A further shock was to come after SD Raiders, despite having much the better of their clash with Macarthur, looked set for heartbreak after an extra time goal from Zane Helweh put the Bulls in front.
But in the 115th minute, a dangerous cross was deflected into the back of the net by a Bulls defender to tie the scores.
Goalkeeper Miguel Figueiria would come up clutch in the decisive shootout, making the save as the Raiders went five from five from the spot to book their passage into the quarter-finals.
“I think we played better than them,” Figueiria told Paramount after the win.
“We had better chances to score, their keeper made some fantastic saves.
“We played better than them, I think, and were unfortunate not to score in 90 minutes.”
“In the end, the football gods won out,” former Irish striker and A-League stalwart Roy O’Donovan said on commentary.
The twin losses add to major concerns over the future of the A-League, just days after the embattled competition officially terminated the licence of Western United to end any hopes of the debt-stricken club saving itself.
O’Donovan said the league’s financial state was of real concern, rendering them unable to field strong teams – especially in Australia Cup competition.
“The way budgets are currently in the A-League, where clubs don’t know how much they have to spend, the last couple of years the squads are getting less and less experience,” O’Donovan said on Paramount.
“Experienced, high level players demand the big bucks. You can see those players coming out of those teams and they are suffering. You’re going to come undone.
“And unfortunately, the A-League teams are coming undone.”
The twin ‘Cupsets’ extended a disastrous night for Australia’s top league, with Adelaide United’s bid to make it to the Asian Champions League Elite – the top intercontinental competition – coming unstuck with a 2-0 home loss to Vietnamese club Cong An Ha Noi.
“We were doing everything we could to maybe go into that Elite competition, but it was not meant to be,” coach Airton Andrioli told Football360 after play.