Bankstown Berries ready for tough match against A-League champs Sydney FC at Edensor Park

Bankstown Berries players will have the opportunity to shine on the big stage when they take on A-League champions Sydney FC tonight.

Bankstown Berries players Daniel Di Rocco, James Combes and Andreas Vias at Thurina Park in Villawood ahead of their FFA Cup match against Sydney FC tonight at Edensor Park. Picture: Simon Bullard

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Bankstown Berries players will have the opportunity to shine on the big stage when they take on A-League champions Sydney FC tonight.

For the Berries’ National Premier Leagues NSW men’s side — a bunch of young semi-professional footballers who had not played together before the start of the season — the FFA Cup match against the Sky Blues could help some of them reach the elite level.

Coach Perry Moustakas said to make it to the round of 16 and come up against Sydney FC was a “definite buzz”.

“It’s really exciting,” he said.

“We didn’t realise how big the FFA Cup is as well — how professional the set-up is.”

Moustakas said it was the first season the Berries had played in the FFA Cup and to come this far was “a massive achievement”.

The Berries conquered local rivals Sydney Olympic FC to enter the FFA Cup and beat Adelaide’s Metro Stars 2-1 in the round of 32 last month.

Bankstown Berries beat Metro Stars in the FFA Cup round of 32 match last month. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

They will take on Sydney FC at Sydney United Sports Centre in Edensor Park tonight, after losing a friendly to the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 last Wednesday.

“It’s been a good run for us and, hopefully, we can continue it on Tuesday,” Moustakas said.

He had no doubt about Sydney FC’s quality but said “there have been bigger upsets before”.

“Their results over the last 12 months have been fantastic,” Moustakas said.

“It’s a team full of internationals. It’s definitely going to be a hard game. They have no weaknesses.”

He said while his side had missed out on the NPL finals, his players were determined to “give it everything” for the Sydney FC game.

“Maybe none of us will get the privilege to play a team like Sydney FC again,” Moustakas said.

He said it was also an opportunity for his players who had A-League aspirations to show off their skills.

Kick-off at Edensor Park is at 7.30pm.