Navy Blues eye up Bay challenge

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 28 November 2020

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Hawke's Bay United head to Auckland still chasing their first ever win over the Navy Blues at Kiwitea Street.

The Bay, co-coached by Chris Greatholder and Bill Robertson, have picked up only three wins in 38 previous meetings with their last victory coming nearly four years ago at Bluewater Stadium.

Despite the tremendous gap between the two sides they both come into the fixture nursing wounds after the Bay were downed 2-1 by Team Wellington and Auckland City FC were floored by two Derek Tieku goals in a 2-0 loss to Hamilton Wanderers.

Coach Jose Figueira knows anything less than victory will be perceived as unacceptable with the statistics heavily favouring his side.

"Like many away teams when they come to Kiwitea Street they aim to make it very hard for us.

"The way that Hawke's Bay set up this year they've got players with high energy and high work rate and a great work ethic.

"They apply themselves without the ball and we have to start the game on the front foot, have real spark about our play, move the ball quickly and be organised with the ball.

AUDIO INTERVIEW - Jose Figueira

Auckland City FC · Navy Blues ready for Hawke's Bay United challenge

"If we do all of those things then there's no doubt our qualities will shine through. The players are looking forward to be at home and be back at Kiwitea Street.

"Its been a fantastic response from the players and the group this week. Any loss is like a bucket of cold water over the head.

"for us early on in the season its a wake up call to remind us we've got to be on our game in every moment in every match.

"The response has been fantastic and the attitude great. The quality and intesity of training this week has been great to see.

"We're looking froward to rising up to what will be another tough challenge for us," he said.

In a strange week for football, tributes have flowed for Argentine great Diego Maradona who passed away following a heart attack.

Auckland City FC training was visited by 1 News, Newshub and Sky Sport as tributes flowed for the former Napoli and Barcelona genius.

"My favourite memories of Maradona which portray the two sides of him are the two moments against England at Mexico '86.

"The first goal he showed cunning and cheekiness in the way he played by bending the rules.

The second goal was goal of the century and a piece of art," he said.

Missing this week through injury are Emiliano Tade and Logan Rogerson. 

The match kicks off at 2.00pm NZST at Kiwitea Street and is live on Sky Sport Next YouTube channel.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Sunday 29 November 2020
Auckland City FC v Hawke's Bay United
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Kick-off: 2.00pm NZST

AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Albert RIERA, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Tom DOYLE,  14. Jordan VALE, 16. Yousif AL-KALISY, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 21. Maro BONSU-MARO,22. Mohamed AWAD, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.

OTHER FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Saturday 28 November 2020
Wellington Phoenix 0-4 Eastern Suburbs AFC
Waitakere United 2-2 Team Wellington

Sunday 29 November 2020
Canterbury United v Hamilton Wanderers
English Park, Christchurch - kick-off: 4.00pm NZST

MILESTONES
Hawke's Bay United have never beaten Auckland City FC at Kiwitea Street in 16 years of trying. They have won 0, drawn four and lost 15. Hawke's Bay United's only wins over Auckland City FC came in 2004 when goals from Jimmy Cudd, Leon Birnie, Jason Hayne and Hayden Beale earned the Bay a 4-2 win at Bluewater Stadium. They won again four years later in a 2-0 victory after goals by David Gearey and Leon Birnie. Their most recent win was also in Napier and came when a Sam Mason-Smith double cancelled out an eighth minute opener from Clayton Lewis.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Sunday's game between Auckland City FC and Hawke's Bay United is the 39th since 2004-05. Auckland City FC have recorded 28 wins, 7 draws, 3 defeats. The Navy Blues have scored 104 goals and conceded 43. Leon Birnie is Hawke's Bay United's top scorer in this fixture with the former Bay frontman netting six goals for the Bluewater Stadium side. Auckland City FC's top scorer in this fixture is club-record goalscorer Emiliano Tade who has bagged 12 goals. There have been five hat-tricks scored by Navy Blues players with former All Whites Adam McGeorge, Myer Bevan getting one each, while there are one each for Emiliano Tade and former Bafana Bafana front man Grant Young.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

2004-05
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-1 (Jonathan Perry, Neil Sykes, Heath McCormack | David Gearey)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) lost 2-4 (Jonathan Smith, Paul Vodanovich | Jimmy Cudd, Leon Birnie, Jason Hayne, Hayden Beale)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) drew 3-3 (Grant Young 3 | Chris McIvor, Leon Birnie 2)

2005-06
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 3-0 (Keryn Jordan, Paul Urlovic 2)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-0 (Paul Urlovic, Keryn Jordan , own Goal)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 6-0 (Liam Mulrooney, Grant Young, Jonathan Smith, Chad Coombes 2, Neil Sykes)

2006-07
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 6-2 (Ross McKenzie, Paul Seaman, Keryn Jordan 2, Grant Young 2 | Joel Wakelin, Chris McIvor)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 2-1 (Paul Urlovic, Grant Young | Sam Messam)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) drew 2-2 (Grant Young 2 | Jimmy Cudd, Own Goal)

2007-08
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 2-0 (Grant Young, Keryn Jordan)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 1-0 (Ben Sigmund)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) lost 0-2 (David Gearey, Leon Birnie)

2008-09
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 3-1 (Chad Coombes, Paul Urlovic 2 | Leon Birnie)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 1-0 (Ivan Vicelich)

2009-10
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 2-1 (Jason Hayne, Grant Young | Leon Birnie)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 6-1 (Jason Hayne 2, Matt Williams 2, Adam Dickinson 2 | Leon Birnie)

2010-11
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) drew 2-2 (Alex Feneridis 2 | Andy Bevin, Jarrod Smith)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 5-0 (Adam McGeorge 3, Stu Kelly, Andrew Milne)

2011-12
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-1 (Emiliano Tade 2, Manel Exposito | Connor Tinnion)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 3-2 (Chad Coombes, David Mulligan, Luis Corrales | Connor Tinnion, Tom Biss)

2012-13
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) drew 1-1 (Alex Feneridis | Sean Lovemore)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) drew 1-1 (Pedro Garcia | Jarrod Smith)

2013-14
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) drew 4-4 (Cristobal 2, Emiliano Tade 2 | David Mulligan, Tom Biss, Sean Lovemore, Aaron Jones)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 4-1 (Emiliano Tade 3, Darren White | Bill Robertson)

2014-15
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 3-2 (Emiliano Tade 2, Fabrizio Tavano | Sean Halpin, Sean Lovemore)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-0 (Emiliano Tade, Ivan Vicelich, Sam Burfoot)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 2-1 (Ryan De Vries, Marko Dordevic | Ryan Tinsley)

2015-16
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) drew 1-1 (Micah Lea'alafa | Kohei Matsumoto)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-1 (Ryan De Vries 2, Micah Lea'alafa | Hamish Watson)

2016-17
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 1-0 (Micah Lea'alafa)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) lost 1-2 (Clayton Lewis | Sam Mason-Smith 2)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 1-0 (Micah Lea'alafa)

2017-18
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 5-0 (Emiliano Tade 2, Ryan De Vries 2, Dan Morgan)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-0 (Alfie Rogers, Micah Lea'alafa, Callum McCowatt)

2018-19
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 2-1 (Dylan Manickum, Micah Lea'alafa | Sam Mason-Smith)
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 4-1 (Fabrizio Tavano, Micah Lea'alafa, Jordan Vale, David Browne | Sam Mason-Smith)

2019-20
v. Hawke's Bay United (A) won 3-2 (Myer Bevan 3 | Gavin Hoy, Jack Parker)
v. Hawke's Bay United (H) won 4-2 (Myer Bevan 2, Angel Berlanga, Cam Howieson | Bill Robertson, Angus Kilkolly)

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