Western Sydney Wanderers knocked out of FFA Cup by NPL team

Western Sydney Wanderers are out of the FFA Cup after being shocked by NPL New South Wales club APIA Leichhardt.

APIA Leichhardt players celebrate knocking Western Sydney Wanderers out of the FFA Cup. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Western Sydney Wanderers have been sensationally knocked out of the FFA Cup by NPL New South Wales club APIA Leichhardt.

APIA, the 1987 National Soccer League champions, beat the Wanderers 2-1 at Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday night to reach the Cup quarter-finals.

It was the second time in FFA Cup history that APIA had beaten A-League opposition, having defeated Melbourne Victory three years ago.

APIA Leichhardt celebrate reaching the FFA Cup quarter[-finals. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Jason Romero gave APIA a first-half lead before Tyson Diaz doubled the hosts’ advantage after an hour with a long-distance effort that caught Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Margush off his line.

A deflected strike from Wanderers defender Tass Mourdoukoutas 10 minutes later cut APIA’s lead in half.

However, APIA held on in front of their fans, with Wanderers coach Carl Robinson paying a hefty price for resting a host of first-choice players.

Elsewhere, a Ben Waine goal secured Wellington Phoenix a 1-0 FFA Cup round-of-32 win over Western United at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.

Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers knocked out of FFA Cup by NPL team