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ISPS Handa Premiership review

Words: Jeremy Ruane

Wednesday 27 November 2019

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - There’s a familiar sight at the top of the ISPS Handa Premiership after fourth round action concluded on the last full weekend in November – Auckland City enjoying the outright lead in the competition.

“The Navy Blues” slipped two points clear after seeing off Wellington Phoenix 3-0 at Westpac Stadium, while cross-town rivals Eastern Suburbs and Waitakere United battled out a 1-1 draw in the East-West derby at Madills Farm.

“The Lilywhites” dominated the early exchanges in the derby, but it was West Auckland’s finest which opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, Dane Schnell pouncing to turn the ball home after Clarke Foulds’ shot was blocked by Danyon Drake.

Before the interval, however, Dylan de Jong got the home team back on level terms, only for Suburbs’ Martin Bueno to be red-carded by referee Luke Gardner on the stroke of half-time for a challenge deemed violent conduct.

That set things up for Waitakere to dominate the second spell, and sure enough, Nic Zambrano drew a fine save from Drake just four minutes in. But the title-holders adjusted well to their circumstances, and were soon giving as good as they got against their numerically superior opponents, with Stephen Hoyle going close for Suburbs just after the hour.

Waitakere kept pressing, however, but they couldn’t regain the lead, although it wasn’t for the want of trying, with a stoppage time save by Drake denying United victory as they sought to finish with a flourish and join the old enemy atop the table.

Auckland are alone at the summit, however, although they were made to work hard for their win in the capital on a day Angel Berlanga equalled the club’s appearances record – he joins James Pritchett in having played 203 games for the “Navy Blues”.

City enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, and Logan Rogerson should have opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the visitors in the sixteenth minute, only to threaten low-flying aircraft rather than the target.

Wellington responded with a terrific spell of pressure, during which Blake Dreihuis and Henry Hamilton were particularly prominent, but right on the stroke of half-time the home team conceded another penalty. This time, the league’s leading marksman, Myer Bevan, was entrusted with the task – 1-0 Auckland at the interval.

The visitors had the upper hand during the second spell, but Wellington were never out of the contest until the final ten minutes of play, during which substitute Dylan Manickum doubled City’s lead before Jordan Vale iced the cake with a late clincher.

The shock of the round saw the previously winless Tasman United secure their first points of the season, toppling Team Wellington 1-0 at Saxton Fields thanks to a penalty on the hour from Jean-Philippe Saiko, minutes after he’d been denied another goal for a foul in the build-up.

Southern United recorded the biggest win of the round, humbling Hamilton Wanderers 4-0 at Logan Park, where Abdulla Al-Kalisy fired the home team in front inside the first sixty seconds following a defensive blunder.

Cameron MacKenzie doubled their lead before twelve minutes had elapsed, with Joel Stevens going close to putting the result beyond doubt before Hamilton finally fired a shot in anger through Derek Tieku.

The visitors kept on pressing for a way back into the match, and eventually their efforts left them susceptible to the counter-attack, especially with Stevens’ pace at United’s disposal. Southern spurned numerous opportunities via this means, however, and nearly paid the price seven minutes from time when conceding a penalty.

Liam Little saved Tommy Semmy’s effort, however, and late goals from Al-Kalisy and Stevens saw Southern double their goal tally for the afternoon – the third time in four games that Ricki Herbert’s side has shipped four or more goals in a match.

Canterbury United and Hawkes Bay United battled out a 2-2 draw at English Park, where “The Dragons” got off to a flying start thanks to Cory Mitchell’s fifth minute header.

It set the tone for a highly entertaining game which saw chances aplenty at both ends as Canterbury’s Danny Knight and Bay’s Ruben Parker were kept fairly active. The visitors were denied a penalty by referee Sean Reilly nine minutes before half-time, while Luke Tongue cleared off the line for “The Dragons” in the shadows of the half-time whistle as Bay sought in vain to level matters before the break.

The end-to-end nature of proceedings continued in the second spell, with Juan Chang seeing an effort cleared off the line early on as the home team looked to double their lead. But after being denied once more by Knight – Gavin Hoy was his unwilling victim just shy of the hour – Bay drew level in the 64th minute through Ahinga Selemani.

Ten minutes later, the visitors were in charge of the contest, Sho Goto heading home a free-kick to give the travelling team the edge. But within a minute, “The Dragons” were back on level terms through Chang to set up a grandstand finish, one Canterbury looked the more likely to realise. But time was their enemy, and a point apiece was the outcome.

Waitakere and Southern meet on Saturday and Seddon Fields to bring November to a close, while on Sunday, Auckland take on Tasman and Kiwitea Street on a day “The Magpies” entertain “The Lilywhites” at Bluewater Stadium.

Canterbury cross Cook Strait to take on Team Wellington at Dave Farrington Park, while at Porritt Stadium, Hamilton host Wellington Phoenix in a clash between the league’s bottom two teams.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS - Wellington Phoenix 0-3 Auckland City FC

: Wellington Phoenix 0-3 Auckland City FC

Watch as the #NavyBlues stay top of the #ISPSHandaPrem as we bring you 90 mins in 60 secs.

Footage courtesy @skysportnz

#StrengthInUnity

https://t.co/FfJdnb1PXo (Extended Highlights) pic.twitter.com/BJiJ5Od3c1
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 26, 2019

Round Review Results:

Wellington Phoenix 0
Auckland City FC 3 (M.Bevan 43'-pen, D.Manickum 82', J.Vale 89')
HT: 0-1.

Canterbury United 2 (C. Mitchell 5', J.Chang 75')
Hawke's Bay United 2 (A.Selemani 64', Sho Goto 74')
HT: 1-0.

Eastern Suburbs AFC 1 (D.de Jong 40')
Waitakere United 1 (D.Schnell 33')
HT: 1-1.

Southern United 4 (A.Al-Kalisy 1', 90', C.MacKenzie 11', J.Stevens 90')
Hamilton Wanderers 0
HT: 2-0.

Tasman United 1 (J.Saiko 62'-pen)
Team Wellington 0
HT: 0-0.