SD Raiders vs Sydney FC Australia Cup Tips & Prediction - Sydney to end Raiders' run in quarter-finals
- SD Raiders vs Sydney FC predictions for Tuesday's Australia Cup QF game
- Sydney on fire with nine goals in their two Australia Cup games, tipped to progress
- Raiders on club-best run in the cup, but set to be outclassed here
- The game is scheduled for kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Tuesday August 18
SD Raiders vs Sydney FC Australia Cup Tips & Prediction
SD Raiders are enjoying their best run in the Australia Cup, but it's tipped to come to an end against A-League heavyweights Sydney FC, who are impressing with their young squad, banging in nine goals across their opening two games of the competition. The Raiders couldn't score in normal time against Macarthur, so Sydney are backed to win this game to nil and advance into the final four.
It's been a challenging preseason and Australia Cup for most A-League teams, but certainly not Sydney FC.
Patrick Kisnorbo's side have surged into the Australia Cup quarter-finals with 5-1 and 4-2 victories over Bayswater and Brisbane Roar, while they also drew with Premier League heavyweights Tottenham in a friendly. With Melbourne Victory the only other A-League club remaining in the quarter-finals, Sydney will fancy themselves to go all the way.
The Raiders will be no pushovers - they've evolved considerably as a club over the last 12 months and became the sixth NPL side to knock out an A-League side when they snuck past Macarthur on penalties in a fiery R16 showdown last week.
It's the first time the Raiders have made it this far in the competition, but it's likely to end here. Sydney should continue to get better as the preseason goes on and they've been shown no signs of rust in any case. Backing the Sky Blues to win with a clean sheet (odds will be included when bookmakers release markets).
SD Raiders vs Sydney FC Stats & Trends
- Eight of Sydney's last 12 wins have been to nil
- Three of Raiders' last five defeats have been to nil
- Raiders failed to score inside 90 mins vs Macarthur in the R16
SD Raiders vs Sydney FC Head To Head
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
SD Raiders Form Analysis
It's been a great campaign for SD Raiders in the NSW NPL, with the club firmly in the hunt for a maiden finals appearance in the competition.
After 28 rounds, the Raiders sit seventh on the ladder, narrowly outside the top six on goal difference. They've surged into contention after winning four of their last five games - but they missed the chance to leapfrog Manly into the top six after going down 3-1 to league leaders APIA Leichhardt this past weekend.
The Raiders have also enjoyed a landmark Australia Cup campaign. They reached the Round of 16 for the first time in club history by defeating Rochedale Rovers 2-1, before creating more history by overcoming Macarthur FC to book their place in the quarter-finals.
After a 0-0 stalemate in normal time, the Raiders went behind in extra-time before forcing penalties, where goalkeeper Michael Figueira was the hero.
SD Raiders Team News
Midfielder Luka Knezevic and striker Noah Chianese were both lively with three shots in the R16 against Macarthur and will be the Raiders' main threats again in the final third.
Knezevic was also on target in the R32 against Rochedale and Chianese has scored seven goals in the NPL this term.
| Position | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Michael Figueira | Australia |
| Defender | Cooper Hanagan | Australia |
| Defender | Jett McCue-Shore | Australia |
| Defender | James Letta | Australia |
| Defender | Lachlan McGrath | Australia |
| Defender | Matthew Lee | Australia |
| Midfielder | Lachlan Everett | Australia |
| Midfielder | Michael Marcic | Australia |
| Midfielder | Luka Knezevic | Australia |
| Midfielder | Martin Fernandez | Australia |
| Midfielder | Sebastian Malfara | Australia |
| Forward | Noah Chianese | Australia |
| Forward | Riley Cox-Barlow | Australia |
| Forward | Robert Eremugo | Australia |
| Forward | Ethan Beaven | Australia |
Sydney FC Form Analysis
Sydney endured an inconsistent start to the A-League season before hitting top form when it mattered most, eliminating Melbourne Victory and minor premiers Newcastle Jets to reach the Grand Final.
The Sky Blues were unable to complete the job, however, going down 1-0 to Auckland in the decider. Earlier in the campaign, Auckland had also ended Sydney's Australia Cup hopes with a quarter-final victory.
Patrick Kisnorbo took over late in the regular season and made an immediate impact, tightening Sydney's defence as the side conceded just five goals across its final eight matches under his management.
Sydney opened their 2026 Australia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 victory over Bayswater City in the Round of 32. Teenage talent Akol Akon starred with three assists, Thiago Quintal netted a superb hat-trick, while Mathias Macallister and Zachary De Jesus also found the back of the net.
The team also impressed in a high-profile friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, earning an impressive 1-1 draw after 90 minutes. New Japanese signing Takahiro Sekine marked his unofficial debut by coming off the bench to score the equaliser.
The Sky Blues backed it up with a big 4-2 win over Brisbane Roar in the R16 last week, with Sekine and Quintal scoring once again, while Ben Garuccio chipped in with a goal and assist. Gabriel Popovic iced the game in stoppage time.
Sydney FC Team News
Akon missed the win over Brisbane through injury, but has resumed training and could feature in this clash.
Sydney have also signed Nigerian striker Oriola Sunday, with Kisnorbo stating he could see some game time on Tuesday night.
Last season's goalkeeper of the year Harrison Devenish-Meares remains sidelined after undergoing surgery in the offseason. Spanish striker Víctor Campuzano is out for the season after ACL surgery.
| Position | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gus Hoefsloot | Australia |
| Goalkeeper | Harrison Devenish-Meares | Australia |
| Defender | Aaron Gurd | Australia |
| Defender | Jordan Courtney-Perkins | Australia |
| Defender | Ben Garuccio | Australia |
| Defender | Zac De Jesus | Australia |
| Defender | Rhyan Grant (captain) | Australia |
| Defender | Ethan Dyer | New Zealand |
| Defender | Marcel Tisserand | DR Congo |
| Defender | Tyler Williams (scholarship) | Australia |
| Defender | Alexandar Popovic | Australia |
| Midfielder | Wataru Kamijo | Australia |
| Midfielder | Jake Hollman | Australia |
| Midfielder | Nick Alfaro (scholarship) | Australia |
| Midfielder | Joe Lacey | Wales |
| Midfielder | Marin France | Australia |
| Midfielder | Rhys Youlley | Australia |
| Forward | Akol Akon (scholarship) | Australia |
| Forward | Víctor Campuzano | Spain |
| Forward | Abel Walatee | Australia |
| Forward | Takahiro Sekine | Japan |
| Forward | Gabriel Popovic | Australia |
| Forward | Mitchell Glasson | Australia |
| Forward | Tiago Quintal | Australia |
| Forward | Mathias Macallister | Australia |
| Forward | Al Hassan Touré | Australia |
| Forward | Oriola Sunday (on loan from RB Omiya Ardija) | Nigeria |
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