The Statewide Cup has provided a unique opportunity to see a mix of the State's competitions play against each other. This round in particular is providing Northern and Southern Championship teams the opportunity to test themselves against the State's best from the WSL. Here's a look at the Quarter Final match ups.
University v South Hobart
Date: Saturday 5 September
Venue: Olinda Grove
Kick Off: 12:00pm
Round of 16 Result University: 3-0 v Taroona South Hobart: Bye
The odd one out for the Statewide Cup Quarter finals, it’s the only game that provides the familiarity of two teams playing in the same competition. University will have an eye on going deeper into the competition than the 2019 iteration. While South Hobart will be brimming at the chance to have a crack at silverware as they look to maintain their grip on being the third strongest women’s team in Tasmania during 2020. On paper there is one clear winner on the back of the WSL form. South Hobart put University to the sword last month, producing a clinical display in a 4-1 match. For the Bees to turn the tide, there’s a hot need to remain structured and organised in the back for a full 90 minutes. Returning personnel may well flag hope, but they’ll want to settle in quickly. The magic of Cup football is enough to shake off the ghosts of the season, which is to University’s advantage, as they are unable to find a way off the bottom of the ladder. But South has the chance to make a statement of intent, with its changing room able to realistically look at a shot at silverware this season. South may well have the quality, especially in the final third, to win, but will need to remain careful and treat this game with the respect it demands. Otherwise a hungry University side could pull off the upset.Clarence Zebras v Northern Rangers
Date: Saturday 5 September
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick Off: 2:00pm
Round of 16 Result Clarence Zebras: 7-0 v Devonport Northern Rangers: 4-0 Launceston City
Clarence Zebras will be breathing a sigh of relief as they will greet Northern Rangers on home territory, instead of backing up a busy Wednesday night encounter with a road trip up the Midlands Highway. Rangers are no stranger to meeting the ‘big wigs’ in the Statewide Cup, encountering Hobart Zebras last season in a semi final 6-0 loss. The Northern team are arriving as a middle of the pack side in a competitive Northern Championship, perhaps with less attacking bite than last year. It’s a steep ask to come up against the ladder leaders of the WSL. Expect a very different approach by Clarence Zebras to their last outing. Wednesday’s defensive mentality will be thrown out the window, instead Rangers will want to take a leaf out of their opponents book to strike early and frustrate Clarence Zebras if there’s any chance of an upset. The step between the Championship and Super League may not be large at the respective top and bottom ends. But this might be a step too far, with Clarence Zebras comfortable favourites against most women’s teams in the state.Kingborough v Riverside Olympic
Date: Saturday 5 September
Venue: Lightwood Park
Kick Off: 2:30pm
Round of 16 Result Kingborough: 7-0 v Somerset Riverside: 5-3 v Metro FC
Typically dubbed as a “Cup” team, Kingborough enter this one seeking a victory to boost their otherwise frustrating season as they welcome Riverside to Lightwood Park. The Roos are newcomers to the Statewide Cup, with a 100% record so far following a 5-3 win against Metro in the opening round. 2020 hasn’t been easy for either club. Kingborough have suffered a rough trot of form in the regular season, the young side struggling to string a defensively sound match to really have a proper bite of WSL opponents. While Riverside have fallen from setting the pace in a 2019 Northern Championship winning season to drifting at mid-table in a fierce competition. Neither side has anything to lose from throwing everything and the kitchen sink at this encounter. The Lions won’t want to be the team left to lick their wounds by suffering defeat to the Championship club. But Riverside have an uncanny knack of scoring roughly the same amount they’ve conceded, proving they won't be an easy beat, even if scoring may not be so simple.Beachside FC v Olympia
Date: Sunday 6 September
Venue: Sandown Park
Kick Off: 12:00pm
Round of 16 Result Beachside: Bye Olympia: 4-0 Ulverstone
Beachside enters the fray of the Statewide Cup to a daunting task of hosting Olympia after drawing an opening round bye. Daunting due to potential flashbacks to last year’s quarterfinal 9-0 battering. The Green and Black team benefit from home ground advantage this time around, however they still enter the game very much as the underdogs. Backing up from midweek heartbreak where Olympia suffered their first defeat of the season, is always a tough task. An unlikely reaction for the Warriors would see them enter deflated and off the pace. However it’s much more probable they will be out for blood, particularly to find some goals after being held goalless. Beachside will need every ounce of defensive structure if Olympia comes out firing. Strange things can happen in one off matches. Beachside have shown consistency throughout the years in the Southern Championships, this season just sitting off the pace at third. Olympia remains a difficult team to break down, meaning Beachside will need capitalise on dead ball situations. Still the Warriors will be expecting smooth sailing through to the semi finals.