Darwin Hearts defeated by Hume City in Australia Cup

Darwin Hearts suffered a hefty defeat in their maiden Cup outing but can hold their heads high knowing they left it all out on the pitch. Recap what happened.

Darwin Hearts went down in their first Cup appearance to NPL Victoria giants Hume City FC. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Darwin Hearts may have not won their Australia Cup Round of 32 match but they certainly won the admiration of all those who saw them play.

A team composed of local players up against a team littered with state representatives and former A-league players, Hearts were unbelievable in the first half.

Holding Hume goalless for the opening 45 mins, Darwin’s back five were sensational.

Spearheaded by former Fijian international 43-year-old Thomas Vulivuli and captain Sushil Shah, the men shifted well in a high line, negating Hume’s long ball efforts.

The home side made Hume look silly on a number of occasions, namely the efforts of Sunil Shrestha down the right.

Hume eventually got into a rhythm in the second and started to find the back of the net with ease.

Their superior height, speed and fitness were too much for Hearts to keep up with as the game reached the final 30 minutes of the night.

Despite the defeat and being eliminated from the competition, goalkeeper Joshua Minucci was full of admiration towards his team.

Darwin Hearts FC celebrating their maiden cup victory and qualification into the Australia Cup. Picture: Daniel Abrantes Photography.

“Honestly words can’t describe (how proud I am of this team),” he said.

“At the start of the pre-season we set out our goals for the year, and so far that’s what we’ve been able to achieve.

“We wanted to be sitting in the top four on the table, we’ve done that. We wanted to make the Round of 32 for the first time in our history, we did that.”

Challenged all night long, the 17-year-old showed great composure and passion between the sticks, putting his body on the line till the final whistle rang out.

“We wanted to leave it all out on the field and I truly believe that we did that,” Minucci said.

“They (Hume) have so much experience in this competition.

“We are a small community team that came up against a semi-professional outfit in one of the country’s top leagues (NPL Victoria).

“We knew we were the underdogs and I believe we shocked them in the first half.

“We had a solid plan and they weren’t able to break us down, yeah they had a few chances but so did we.”

The goalie was also overwhelmed with the 1443 spectator turnout, stating how inspirational they were despite the scoreline.

“That’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of,” he said.

“They were very loud and it definitely gave us a bit of a boost out there.

“I’m proud that they turned up and I hope they’re proud of our efforts.”

Hearts counting down the hours ahead of Australia Cup debut

The biggest game in Darwin Hearts history is here.

The small club that could, will face off against NPL Victoria juggernaut Hume City FC in their Australia Cup Round of 32 showdown.

After qualifying by defeating FNT powerhouse Olympic FC 3-1 in May, Hearts have been in fine form recording four wins and two one goal defeats.

Hume will prove a very tough opponent for Hearts, boasting ex-A-League's talent in former Mariners’ Josh Bingham and Harry Ashcroft, plus former Jets player Michael Weier.

Hume have also got their fair share of experience in the cup with five Round of 32 appearances of their own, with their best run coming in 2015 when they made the semi-final.

Heart’s vice-president Fusang Sherpa has been counting down the days till the clash and can’t wait to see his club take on Hume.

“Our excitement is palpable as we prepare for the upcoming match,” he said.

“It’s not just the players who are excited; our volunteers and club supporters are eagerly looking forward to the match as well.

“Their enthusiasm and dedication have been incredible, and they are an essential part of what makes our club special.”

Sherpa also commented on how impressed he has been with his side’s dedication in preparation for the contest, and will be proud irrespective of what result may occur.

“The training sessions have been intense and rewarding, thanks to the expert guidance and support we have received,” he said.

“Everyone involved, from the players to the coaches, is deeply committed to putting forth their best effort.”

MATCH INFO: Tuesday, July 30 with kick-off at 7pm, at Darwin Football Stadium, Marrara.