A double from Spanish striker Oriol Riera helped Western Sydney Wanderers avoid an FFA Cup shock as they beat Blacktown City 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday.

Wanderers turned in a lacklustre showing against the NSW NPL1 side but eventually prevailed after a 2-2 draw.

Former National Soccer League club Blacktown eliminated Central Coast Mariners last month, but there seemed little likelihood of another upset in the early stages as Riera netted from the spot after just three minutes.

They controlled possession...

South Melbourne have set up a blockbuster FFA Cup semifinal against A-League Sydney FC after thumping Gold Coast City 6-0 on Wednesday.

The former National Soccer League giants cruised into the last four at the Cbus Super Stadium, with Milos Lujic and Matthew Millar both scoring twice.

The win puts South within two victories of the club's first piece of national silverware since Ange Postecoglou steered them to their fourth title in the 1998-99 NSL grand final.

Importantly, it also gives the A-League...

Captain Mile Jedinak has been recalled by head coach Ange Postecoglou for Australia's 2018 AFC World Cup playoff against Syria next month.

The Aston Villa midfielder missed the Socceroos' latest qualifiers against Japan and Thailand, as well as June's Confederations Cup, due to a groin injury.

But he made his comeback for the English second-tier side last week, and has been rewarded with a place in a 30-man preliminary squad announced on Tuesday.

Syria

Australia

12:00 PM UTC

Leg 1

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Postecoglou retained 22 of 23 players named for...

Coach Ernie Merrick is upbeat the arrival of Venezuelan international Ronald Vargas will add the attacking spark the Newcastle Jets need to turn around their dismal recent A-League fortunes.

Merrick is the Jets' seventh coach since the struggling club last made the finals seven seasons ago.

But the Scot is confident a player of Vargas' pedigree can lift the Jets, who are aiming to get off to a flying start to the new season when they face Central Coast in the F3 derby on Oct. 7.

Arriving from Greek...

Coach Alen Stajcic has declared the Matildas' Sam Kerr, Lisa De Vanna and Caitlin Foord the most threatening attacking trio in women's football.

World player of the year nominee Kerr and Australia's all-time record scorer De Vanna both contributed goals to Saturday's 2-1 friendly win over Brazil. The pair combined fluently with Foord at a sold-out Pepper Stadium in Penrith, surging forward to keep their South American visitors on their toes.

And though Stajcic lamented his team's inability to put...