Super City derby set to rock 2020

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 10 January 2020

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The New Year gets underway with a bang as Auckland City FC shape up to Waitakere United in the first Super City derby of the season.

The Navy Blues come into the match off the back of three hours without a goal but coach Jose Figueira is optimistic his side can turn their fortunes around with a meaty showdown against their oldest rivals.

"It'll be tough and we come into this off the back of two results that were a bit frustrating after the way we've been playing with a lot of quality, energy and intensity which has been fantastic but we've just lacked a little bit of luck and precision.

"With Waitakere United we expect the same sort of challenge and will make life extremely hard. They have a decent record at Seddon Field, which presents it's own challenges, which is something we've prepared for this week.

"It's been a positive start to 2020 from the boys. I see more hunger and desire in training and at the midway point we now want to kick on," he said.

Auckland City FC ranks were bolstered in the transfer window and are putting the finishing touches on the signings of All Whites defender Tom Doyle and the club's all-time top goalscorer Emiliano Tade.

AUDIO - Jose Figueira introduces new signings

Both Doyle and Tade return to the club where they made their name with the former signing from Bundesliga 3 side Chemnitz while the latter signs after successful spells with Amazulu and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Doyle started his career with Auckland City FC and was part of the club's FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan in 2011 before going on to win full international recognition and a contract with the Wellington Phoenix.

Tade, who made an $800,000.00 NZD move from Amazulu to Mamelodi Sundowns last season, is back for his third spell with Auckland City FC where he has scored 107 goals in 162 appearances.

While both add depth and quality to an already competitive squad there were two bodies headed out the door with Keegan Linderboom signing professional terms with a club in Thailand and David Browne taking up a three week trial in Finland.

Goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai, who went back to Spain for personal reasons towards the end of 2019, is also another welcome return for Figueira as he eyes the second half of the season.

Figueira confirmed that Saturday's game has come too soon for Doyle and Tade as he faces up to another welcome but problematic selection headache.

"This week has come too soon, we're waiting on final clearances and administrative bits and pieces so Saturday is slightly too early. But they're both fit and both training fully and will be in contention for selection next week when the paperwork is done and dusted," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Waitakere United's season has been up and down with the West Aucklanders chasing a playoff spot sitting just one point adrift of defending champions Eastern Suburbs AFC. Five teams sit behind the Paul Hobson-coached outfit with just two points seperating them all the way down to tenth position.

The match is on Saturday 11 January 2020 and kicks off at 3.00pm at Seddon Field.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership
Saturday 11 January 2020
Waitakere United v Auckland City FC
Seddon Field, Auckland
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZST

AC: 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA (c), 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Albert RIERA, 9. Myer BEVAN, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 14. Jordan VALE, 16. Yousif AL-KALISY, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Conor TRACY (GK), 20. Logan ROGERSON, 21. Maro BONSU-MARO, 22. Clayton LEWIS, 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Cameron BROWN (GK).

COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

2018-19
v. Waitakere United (H) won 5-2 (Fabrizio TAVANO 2, Dylan MANICKUM 2, Maro BONSU-MARO)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 2-0 (Javier LOPEZ 2)

2017-18
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 2-2 (Emiliano TADE, Callum McCOWATT)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 5-0 (Emiliano TADE 2, Ryan DE VRIES 3)

2016-17
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 1-4 (Emiliano TADE)
v. Waitakere United (H) lost 0-1

2015-16
v. Waitakere United (H) won 5-1 (Ryan DE VRIES 3, Darren WHITE, Clayton LEWIS)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 4-0 (Joao MOREIRA, Micah LEA'ALAFA 2, Ryan DE VRIES)

2014-15
v. Waitakere United (H) won 5-1 (David BROWNE 3, Joao MOREIRA, Oscar GARCIA) -ISPS Handa Premiership Semi Final
v. Waitakere United (A) won 2-0 (Ryan DE VRIES, Oscar GARCIA) -ISPS Handa Premiership Semi Final
v. Waitakere United (H) won 1-0 (Ivan CARRIL)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 1-0 (David BROWNE)

2013-14
v. Waitakere United (H) won 4-1 (Andrew MILNE, Chris BALE, Emiliano TADE 2) -ISPS Handa Premiership Semi Final
v. Waitakere United (A) won 4-0 (Emiliano TADE 2, Ivan VICELICH, Takuya IWATA) -ISPS Handa Premiership Semi Final
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 0-1
v. Waitakere United (H) won 2-0 (Chris BALE, Darren WHITE)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 4-1 (Emiliano TADE< Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Andrew MILNE, Roy KRISHNA) - Charity Cup

2012-13
v. Waitakere United (N) won 2-1 (Adam DICKINSON, Alex FENERIDIS) - OFC Champions League Final
v. Waitakere United (H) lost 0-1 - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (A) won 3-1 (Adam DICKINSON 2, Gustavo SOUTO) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 3-4 (Manel EXPOSITO 2, Chris BALE) - ISPS Handa Premiership Final
v. Waitakere United (H) lost 2-3 (Alex FENERIDIS, Manel EXPOSITO)
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 1-1 (Luis CORRALES)
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 1-2 (Ivan VICELICH) - Charity Cup

2011-12
v. Waitakere United (H) won 3-1 (Luis CORRALES, Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Manel EXPOSITO)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 3-1 (Own Goal, Own Goal, David MULLIGAN)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 3-2 (Alex FENERIDIS, Ivan VICELICH, Daniel KOPRIVCIC) - Charity Cup

2010-11
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 2-3 (Own Goal, Manel EXPOSITO) -ISPS Handa Premiership Final
v. Waitakere United (A) won 1-0 (Daniel KOPRIVCIC)
v. Waitakere United (H) lost 1-3 (Phil EDGINTON)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 1-0 (Stu KELLY) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 1-1 (Alex FENERIDIS) - OFC Champions League Group Stage

2009-10
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 1-1 (Chad COOMBES)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 2-1 (Ivan VICELICH, Grant YOUNG)
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 1-1 (Chad COOMBES) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 2-2 (Greg UHLMANN, Daniel KOPRIVCIC) - OFC Champions League Group Stage

2008-09
v. Waitakere United (A) won 2-1 (Keryn JORDAN, Paul URLOVIC) - ISPS Handa Premiership Final
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 2-4 (Matt FRIEL, Keryn JORDAN)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 1-0 (Matt WILLIAMS)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 3-1 (Matt FRIEL, Keryn JORDAN, Adam McGEORGE) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 2-2 (Keryn JORDAN 2) - OFC Champions League Group Stage

2007-08
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 0-1
v. Waitakere United (A) lost 0-2
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 1-1 (Keryn JORDAN)
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 1-1 (Ki-Hyung LEE) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 2-2 (Keryn JORDAN 2) - OFC Champions League Group Stage

2006-07
v. Waitakere United (H) won 3-2 (Liam MULROONEY, Paul URLOVIC, Neil SYKES) - ISPS Handa Premiership Final
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 1-1 (Grant YOUNG)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 4-3 (Keryn JORDAN, Paul SEAMAN, Grant YOUNG, Paul URLOVIC)
v. Waitakere United (H) drew 2-2 (Keryn JORDAN 2) - OFC Champions League Group Stage
v. Waitakere United (A) drew 2-2 (Paul URLOVIC, Grant YOUNG) - OFC Champions League Group Stage

2005-06
v. Waitakere United (A) won 2-1 (Keryn JORDAN 2)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 5-1 (Paul URLOVIC 3, Reg DAVANI 2)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 2-1 (Keryn JORDAN, Grnt YOUNG)

2004-05
v. Waitakere United (H) won 3-2 (Grant YOUNG 2, Liam MULROONEY) - ISPS Handa Premiership Final
v. Waitakere United (H) won 4-2 (Jonathan SMITH 2, James PRITCHETT, Grant YOUNG)
v. Waitakere United (H) won 1-0 (Grant YOUNG)
v. Waitakere United (A) won 3-1 (Paul URLOVIC 2, Liam MULROONEY)

* Auckland City FC won the match 1-0 but Waitakere United were awarded a 3-0 win because Auckland City FC fielded an ineligible player.