SHAMROCK ROVERS DARWIN’S FFA Cup odyssey has drawn to its conclusion in the Round of 32 after an 8-0 defeat to A-League champions Sydney FC at Darwin Football Stadium.
The three-year-old non-league club rose to prominence on these shores following Monday’s Second Captains podcast, where it was explained via an email that Rovers were a team composed mainly of Irish and English tradesmen who had emigrated to OZ and founded the club in Shamrock Rovers’ mould.
Recently rebranded as Darwin Rovers FC, the green-and-white-hoop-clad amateurs have won two consecutive Northern Territory leagues, and were drawn against giants Sydney FC, who last season won the country’s top flight by 17 points, losing just a solitary game in the process.
Sydney, who boast several Australian internationals as well as former Besiktas and Brazil U20 marksman Bobo, have a wage bill of $3.5m and play their home games at the 45,500-capacity Allianz Stadium. Rovers, meanwhile, earn roughly $8,000 annually from sponsors in order to keep afloat.
Prior to today’s David versus Goliath-type contest, Rovers centre back Warren Behan sounded a warning to the big-league giants during an interview with The Guardian.
“I’d say we’re favourites,” the 26-year-old engineering lecturer told Helen Davidson. “They lost against Arsenal last week so their heads will be down. They’re doing pre-season at the moment, we’re halfway through our season. We’ve done the hard part, we’re fit at the minute.”
Befitting of both the occasion and their unwavering confidence, Behan and his team-mates traveled to today’s encounter aboard a stretch Hummer, just as they did when they were drawn against Brisbane Strikers in 2016.
@SRDFC on route #FFACup #limolife pic.twitter.com/RBvxKa4OBr
— Darwin Rovers FC (@SRDFC) August 2, 2017
Sadly for Rovers, today’s game panned out similarly to their cup exit last season, with Brazilian Bobo firing four goals in Sydney’s 8-0 victory.
On the plus side, the official attendance at Darwin Football Stadium was a massive 2680.
Sydney, who were beaten by Melbourne in last year’s cup final before becoming the most dominant A-League champions in history, went as far as sending newly-appointed Sky Blues assistant Phil Moss 4,000 kilometers north to scout their Round of 32 opponents last month. It appeared to pay off this evening.
Next up for Darwin, it’s a trip to Mindil Aces on Friday where the Northern Territory champions will be seeking to make it four wins from five in the new league campaign.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
