APIA Leichhardt vs Melbourne City Tips & Predictions - APIA target another Cupset

APIA are no strangers to 'Cupsets' - they are aiming to become the only NPL side in competition history to register three wins over an A-League club after stunning Melbourne Victory in 2018 and the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2021. APIA have been in excellent form in the NSW NPL, currently sitting in second spot on the ladder with six wins from their last seven games, scoring a whopping 65 goals in their 22 games.

Meanwhile, City will be playing their first competitive game since emerging triumphant in the 2024/25 A-League Grand Final, conquering bitter rivals Melbourne Victory 1-0 in the final. City won the Australia Cup in 2016 and were runners-up in 2019, but they were defeated at this stage of the competition last year by struggling Perth Glory. APIA will be hoping to catch City cold here and with a passionate crowd expected at Leichhardt, the stage is set for another Cupset. I'm not sure APIA can pull it off, but I'm happy to back them at plus money in the double chance market, with Under 3.5 goals also in play.

This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides.

APIA have traditionally performed strongly in the Australia Cup - they've featured five times at this stage of the competition and only once failed to reach at least the R16, with that result coming last year when they went down to an in-form Oakleigh Cannons outfit 3-0.

APIA's best showing in the Australia Cup came in 2021, when they defeated Western Sydney Wanderers in the R16 to make the quarter-finals, where they were ultimately humbled 6-0 by the Central Coast Mariners.

Presley Ortiz has been the main man for APIA this season, with the 22-year-old striker scoring 14 goals in 20 appearances since joining the club, helping guide the team to second on the NPL NSW ladder behind NWS Spirit.

With six wins in their last seven games, APIA will fancy themselves to make it three wins vs A-League opposition on Wednesday night.

It was a stunning season for City in the A-League, with the club battling through a horror injury toll to ultimately emerge as champions.

City had the best defence in the regular season, conceding just 25 goals in 26 games, while they only conceded one goal during the finals series, cruising past Western United in the semis before toppling Victory 1-0 in the GF.

Considering this will be their first hit-out since that triumph, we can expect City to field a somewhat inexperienced side, with academy players such as 16-year-old Beckham Baker a chance to start.

City will be looking to back up their Grand Final silverware by taking out their second Australia Cup trophy, but they will be mindful of early elimination after going down 5-4 in extra-time to Perth Glory in the R32 last year.