- Queensland Lions SC have won their last 5, drawing 0 and losing 0 in all competitions.
- South Melbourne FC have won 2 and lost 3 of their last 5 matches.
- Queensland Lions SC are unbeaten in 3 away from home, winning 3, scoring 5 goals.
Lions FC in the best form of their lives
The winner of Tuesday's Australia Cup 2026 semifinal - between South Melbourne FC and Queensland Lions SC - will be a Member Federation club and will also be guaranteed a spot in the 2027-28 AFC Champions League Two, regardless of their NPL qualification.
Queensland Lions SC come into the match in excellent form having won their last 5 straight matches across all competitions. The visitors had two matches in NPL Queensland 2026 since their 4-1 home win over Peninsula Power 14 days ago, but they followed it up with a repeat home result, a 1-0 victory, against the same side yesterday. Queensland Lions SC are flying at the moment, and they will be looking to take this momentum into this big game.
Hellas come into the game with a similar form, but a few more scratches and bruises. South Melbourne FC have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 10 in all competitions, they'll need to be on top of their game to secure a win. Their recent results are a story in swinginess - a 1-0 loss away to Caroline Springs George Cross in the NPL Victoria 2026, followed by a 2-1 win at home to Heidelberg United in NPL Victoria - Playoffs 2026 and then a 2-1 away defeat to Oakleigh Cannons in the same comp. Manager Sinisa Cohadzic has done a good job since coming in on 5 May 2025, but this is a tough match.
Hellas are the favourites, but Lions can keep it close
The odds are 1.61 for South and 4.64 for the Lions. A tight and tense semifinal seems likely, with Queensland Lions SC built to frustrate and hit in transition or from set pieces whilst South's free-flowing nature should be able to break down a set up like that.
Queensland Lions will line up with numbers in the middle, they're a highly organised side who can be very hard to break down. They can strike quickly on the counter-attack and have been ruthless away from home in all comps (W3, D0, L0, G5). The creative talent of Arran Cocks, Painter-Andrews and David Yoo for South will be key to unlocking the Lions' defensive block and they will have to push on. Over 2.5 goals at 1.5 is our best alternative play, which would fit nicely with South Melbourne pushing the tempo and the Lions making them pay in transition.
