A-League champions Melbourne Victory began their FFA Cup campaign in scintillating fashion as they ruthlessly progressed to the last 16, defeating Balmain Tigers FC 6-0 at Leichardt Oval on Tuesday evening.
Coming into the match, Tigers manager Tass Fiakos was hopeful that the New South Wales State League side could pull off an upset, claiming that they were "certainly not going to lie down."
Despite a lively start where they were able to shut down space in midfield in the opening 10 minutes, the Tigers were brought back down to earth when the Victory drew first blood in the 11th minute when Besart Berisha slotted into the bottom corner off a Jesse Makarounas assist.
Kevin Muscat's side doubled their lead minutes shy from half-time when a well worked move on the right flank saw a Jason Geria cross find attacker Connor Pain unmarked at the far post for a simple tap in.
The Victory began the second half from where they left off, applying pressure on Balmain's defence as they easily monopolised possession, and they netted their third in the 56th minute when Kosta Barbarouses slotted home from 15 yards out.
Victory bagged a fourth goal moments later when Daniel Georgievski scored off the rebound after Tigers' custodian Anthony Costa somehow denied Barbarouses a brace.
George Howard bagged his first senior goal for Melbourne in the 70th minute before Fahid Ben Khalfallah added a sixth minutes from time when he unleashed an unstoppable 20 yard shot to seal the win.
It was @AaronMooy to break @EdgeworthFC hearts after two stunning free kicks to get @MelbourneCity through. #FFACup pic.twitter.com/hg6wCZ43uT
— Westfield FFA Cup (@FFACup) August 4, 2015
Meanwhile, Victory's cross-town rivals Melbourne City got their 2015 FFA Cup campaign off to a perfect start as they narrowly edged out Edgeworth FC 2-1.
The NSW National Premier League side showed intent to get forward in the early stages, and subsequently hit the lead when Bren Hammel converted a penalty after Patrick Kisnorbo sloppily conceded a foul inside his own box.
Their lead was short-lived, however, when Aaron Mooy curled in a free-kick in the 35th minute from the edge of the box before spectacularly replicating the first-half strike deep into extra time in a similar position, to book the Citizen's place in the round of 16.
Elsewhere, Sydney United completed a spectacular comeback to defeat South Hobart on penalties after finishing at 3-3 (3-1) after extra time.
The former National Soccer League outfit fell two goals behind after Christopher Hunt put the dominant Tasmanians in the lead in the 27th minute with a thunderous strike which narrowly missed the cross-bar before doubling their lead early in the second half courtesy of Brayden Mann.
Mark Rudan's men replied in style as Panagiotis Nikas pegged a goal back off a free kick in the 58th minute before securing a brace when a strike from outside the box beat goalkeeper Kane Pierce in the 71st minute.
United looked to have completed a remarkable comeback when former Newcastle Jets man Chris Triantis pummelled a shot past Pierce in the 81st minute, but were pegged back Alfred Hess managed to equalise just minutes shy of full time.
Eventually, South Hobart only had themselves to blame for their premature elimination as missed penalties from Mann, whose shot hit the crossbar, before Matthew Lewis and Kobe Kemp both saw their penalties saved by veteran custodian Justin Pasfield.
It was late heartbreak for @GUFC1997 as well, going down 1-0 to @sydneyolympic after a late winner #FFACup #GFCvSOL pic.twitter.com/EgE4mTt7Te
— Westfield FFA Cup (@FFACup) August 4, 2015
In Tuesday's other match, Sydney Olympic got the better of Gungahlin United, 1-0, on a chilly night in Canberra.
The match proved to be a tough tussle as neither side managed to get the better of their opponents, until Michael Gaitatzis broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute to progress to the last 16.