The FFA Cup fairytale will continue for at least another week for the Truganina Hornets.
The minnows shocked state league 4 west division rivals Maribyrnong Greens with four second-half goals to win 4-0 at Arndell Park Reserve on Sunday.
They have set up a dream fourth-round date with NPL powerhouse Heidelberg United back at their home ground this weekend.
Hornets president Sergio Lunedei is rapt with his side’s progress.
“We started playing metro league two years ago and now we’re playing against NPL sides,” he said.
“It’s a good opportunity for the club …exposure against a club like that … that’s the good part of the FFA Cup, it gives you a chance to play against teams you never usually get to play against.
“It’s a great achievement to get through three rounds and now into the fourth round.”
The Hornets have a much stronger squad than last season, having retained most of its top players and making a number of key additions.
“We’ve added more quality to the team and we’ve got heaps of depth,” Lunedei said.
“Last year, we struggled a little bit with the subs but this year … we’ve got two senior sides, not just seniors and reserves. They’re good enough to fill two senior teams.”
The Hornets are building for a bright future and didn’t field a player over the age of 27 in Sunday’s big win.
Maker Maker, a teenage recruit from WA, shone in the midfield.
He scored the first goal of the second half before the game opened up and Jordan Borg took over, scoring twice and assisting on a Rasheed Omar tap-in.
The Hornets had it all their own way in the second half against the Greens, but it will be a whole new ball game when they face Heidelberg United.
United is a club steeped in history.
It was once a member of the National Soccer League and has four Victorian Premier League titles.
United resides in the top-tier NPL, in which it has won two of its first three games.
The Hornets welcome the challenge and won’t be overawed by the lofty reputation of the opposition.
“We’re not thinking about who we’re going to play; we’re just thinking about playing,” Lunedei said.
“We play our game and it doesn’t matter who we play. The names count for nothing.”
FFA Cup elsewhere
Hoppers Crossing was eliminated from the cup on Friday night in a 3-1 loss to Geelong.
In the NPL, Werribee City had its third consecutive loss on home turf, going down 2-1 to defending champion South Melbourne.
City picked up its first point of the season in a 1-1 mid-week draw with Bentleigh Greens.
