By JARROD POTTER
IN WITH a big shot of advancing to the FFA Cup round of 32, South Springvale has one last opponent to overcome.
After knocking over its second NPL side in as many rounds, besting North Geelong Warriors, Aris is set to battle a third with big stakes on the line mid-week on either 24 June or 25 June.
Warner Reserve is set to host the battle between South Springvale and NPL eighth-placed Oakleigh Cannons in round seven of the FFA Cup Victorian Preliminaries.
South Springvale coach Bill Lambropoulos said on Sunday evening that even against the hardest opposition left in the Cup campaign, Aris’ next opponent didn’t matter as his charges can take it up to anyone.
“We’re still in it and we’re going to continue to think positive and do our best,” Lambropoulos said.
“There are some big teams left in this competition – we’ll take it game by game as it comes and do our best that’s all we can do.”
South Springvale flew into the Victorian final eight for the second year in a row after knocking over North Geelong 2-1 on Sunday evening.
Aris found the back of the net through Dionysios Liosatos before a header from defender Tommy Brooks put the match beyond doubt.
Lambropoulos believes the side has been taking each match as it comes without focusing on getting back to the Cup finals.
“I think they know from last year what it means to the club, to the supporters and to themselves to be on the big arena,” Lambropoulos said.
“And this year we’ve included some new boys into the squad that can obviously help us with our journey.
“The onus hasn’t been on the cup – that was never put on them as pressure.”
Aris needs only one more win in the regional qualifiers to book its place in the FFA Cup – returning to the competition after a stellar 2014 run where South Springvale was eliminated at the top-16 stage.
South Springvale famously made a run into the inaugural FFA Cup’s round of 16 in 2014 before elimination by Palm Beach Sharks. The side also finished second overall in the Dockerty Cup – conceding a solitary goal against Melbourne Knights with seconds left in second overtime.
