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Navy Blues injury concerns ease

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 4 December 2020

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC's squad is on the mend as coach Jose Figueira looks ahead to Sunday's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership clash with Team Wellington at David Farrington Park.

Team Wellington have made a solid start to the campaign and a win over Scott Hales' side would give a massive boost to the Navy Blues.

"When the draw came out Team Wellington were among a handful of teams that the players and coaches look out for. They're always titanic battles and we're looking forward to another really high quality big game on Sunday," Figueira told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Emiliano Tade (calf), Mario Bilen (ankle/hamstring) are doubts but there was good news for Mohamed Awad and Logan Rogerson who both looked sharp at training this week.

"On the day before the Hamilton game Emiliano Tade pulled up with a calf strain and initially we thought it was a little bit mild but it might potentially keep him out for the rest of the games this side of the year but we'll continue to monitor him this week.

"Logan's trained fully this week and looking really sharp and we chose to rest him with an eye on this week and Mohamed Awad is getting a little bit closer to full fitness which is great.

"The only other one is Mario Bilen with his ankle and mhamstring so this week's game might be a little bit too soon for him.

Figueira has worked hard to prepare his team for Sunday's showdown with Team Wellington as the two clubs ponder recent changes to the New Zealand National League structure.

New Zealand Football made the announcement of profound change last Tuesday and while the impact of the structural switch continues to reverberate Figueira has maintained a business-as-usual approach to the news.

"Our approach to things has remained the same - my role is to ensure we keep focused on what's directly in front of us in terms of our preparation, training and the game with Team Wellington this Sunday.

"Our staff are ready our players are focused and we can't wait for Sunday's game with Team Wellington," he said.

The match kicks off at 4.00pm NZST at David Farrington Park in Wellington.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Sunday 6 December 2020
Team Wellington v Auckland City FC
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Kick-off: 4.00pm NZST

AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 6. Brian KALTACK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 8. Albert RIERA, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Tom DOYLE, 12. Abdulbaset KHALIFA, 14. Jordan VALE, 16. Yousif AL-KALISY, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 19. Logan ROGERSON, 22. Mohamed AWAD, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.

OTHER FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Sunday 6 December 2020
Hamilton Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton - kick-off: 1.00pm NZST

Hawke's Bay United v Canterbury United
Bluewater Stadium, Napier - kick-off: 1.30pm NZST

Eastern Suburbs AFC v Waitakere United
Madills Farm, Auckland - kick-off: 4.00pm NZST

MILESTONES
This marks the final time Team Wellington and Auckland City FC will play in a top flight National League encounter ever.

The two clubs first met on October 25, 2004, when Auckland City FC defeated Team Wellington 5-1 at Kiwitea Street thanks to goals by Liam Mulrooney (2), Paul Urlovic, Grant Young and Riki Van Steeden. 'TeeDubs' goal was scored by Graham Little.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Sunday's game is the 47th meeting between the two clubs with Auckland City FC winning 29, drawing 7 and losing 10. The clubs have met twice in the NZF Charity Cup with one match ending in a draw before Team Wellington won the trophy on penalties. The other match was won by Auckland City FC 3-0. In the OFC Champions League, Auckland City FC and Team Wellington played on six occasions with Auckland City FC winning three and drawing three, although one of those draws went to a penalty shoot-out won by the Navy Blues. Team Wellington managed to defeat Auckland City FC on the away goals rule to edge through to the OFC Champions League final in 2018, a final they won. The overall head-to-head record reads played 54, Auckland City FC won 33, drew 11, lost 10.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS - NZF CHARITY CUP

2014
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2* (Tim Payne, Emiliano Tade | Cole Peverley, Michaek Gwyther)
*Team Wellington won 4-3 on penalties

2015
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-0 (Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Micah Lea'alafa 2)

2016**
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-1 (Ryan De Vries, Emiliano Tade 2 | Ben Harris)

2017**
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 1-3 (Kris Bright | OG, Scott Hilliar, Joel Stevens)

2018**
v. Team Wellington (H) won 4-3 (Cam Howieson, Javier Lopez, Dan Morgan, Micah Lea'alafa | Mario Barcia, Hamish Watson 2)

** Also doubled up as ISPS Handa Men's Premiership matches

PREVIOUS MEETINGS - OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

2015
v. Team Wellington (N) drew 1-1* (Joao Moreira | Bill Robertson)
*Auckland City FC won 5-4 on penalties

2016
v. Team Wellington (N) won 3-0 (Micah Lea'alafa 2, Clayton Lewis)

2017
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-0 (Joao Moreira 2, Ryan De Vries)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 2-0 (Ryan De Vries, Emiliano Tade)

2018
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 0-0
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2 (Eric Molloy, Angus Kilkolly)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS - ISPS HANDA MEN'S PREMIERSHIP

2004-05
v. Team Wellington (H) won 5-1 (Liam Mulrooney 2, Paul Urlovic, Grant Young, Riki Van Steeden | Graham Little)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 4-1 (Grant Young 3, Chad Coombes | OG)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 2-1 (Jonathan Smith, Paul Urlovic | David Johnston)

2005-06
v. Team Wellington (H) won 5-3 (Keryn Jordan 3, Grant Young 2 | Bryan Little, David Johnston, Brown)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 6-4 (Grant Young 2, Keryn Jordan 3, Neil Sykes | Wiremu Patrick, Graham Little 2, Bryan Little)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 4-0 (Grant Young, Reg Davani 2, James Pritchett)

2006-07
v. Team Wellington (H) won 1-0 (Dean Gordon)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 6-2 (Ben Sigmund, Neil Sykes 3, Keryn Jordan, Christoph Pospich | Graham Little, Ahkoui)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 3-2 (Christoph Pospich, Jason Hayne, Luiz del Monte | Peter Halstead, Wilson)

2007-08
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 1-1 (Eliezer Anello | Wiremu Patrick)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 2-0 (Grant Young, Paul Urlovic)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-2 (Sam Campbell, Grant Young, Keryn Jordan | Darren Cheriton, Raf de Gregorio)
v. Team Wellington (H) lost 3-4 (Jeff Campbell, Chan Goo Yoon, George Suri | Graham Little 2, Peter Halstead 2)

2008-09
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 1-2 (Paul Urlovic | Luis Corrales, Bryan Little)
v. Team Wellington (H) lost 1-3 (Ivan Vicelich | Luis Corrales, Andy Barron, Bryan Little)

2009-10
v. Team Wellington (A) won 1-0 (Matt Williams)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-1 (Jason Hayne, Grant Young, Ki-Hyung Lee | Greg Draper)

2010-11
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 0-0
v. Team Wellington (H) won 2-0 (Manel Exposito, Luis Corrales)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 2-0 (Manel Exposito, Luis Corrales)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 5-1 (Manel Exposito, Luis Corrales, Daniel Koprivcic 2, Adam Dickinson | Hicham Kamri)

2011-12
v. Team Wellington (H) won 4-2 (OG, Emiliano Tade, Luis Corrales, Manel Exposito | Ethan Galbraith, Michale White)
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 1-1 (Manel Exposito | Patrick Fleming)
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 0-1
v. Team Wellington (H) lost 1-3 (Manel Exposito | Henry Fa'arodo, Dakota Lucas 2)

2012-13
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-2 (Chris Bale, Manel Exposito, Ivan Vicelich | Henry Fa'arodo, Cory Chettlburgh)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 3-2 (Adam Dickinson, Simon Arms, Daniel Koprivcic | Darren Cheriton, Hamish Watson)

2013-14
v. Team Wellington (A) won 4-1 (Darren White, David Browne, Mario Bilen, Alex Feneridis | Jamie de Abreu)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-2 (Emiliano Tade 2, Ryan De Vries | Henry Fa'arodo, Charlie Henry)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 1-0 (Emiliano Tade)

2014-15
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 0-4 (Michael Gwyther 2, Luis Corrales, Jarrod Smith)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-0 (John Irving, Ivan Carril, Oscar Garcia)

2015-16
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 2-2 (Emiliano Tade 2 | Bill Robertson, Ben Harris)
v. Team Wellington (H) won 1-0 (Clayton Lewis)
v. Team Wellington (N) lost 2-4 (Joao Moreira, Dae Wook Kim | Tom Jackson 2, Cole Peverley, Ben Harris)

2016-17
v. Team Wellington (H) won 4-0 Emiliano Tade, Joao Moreira 2, Ryan De Vries)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 3-1 (Ryan De Vries, Emiliano Tade 2 | Ben Harris)
v. Team Wellington (N) lost 1-2 (Emiliano Tade | Ben Harris 2)

2017-18
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 1-3 (Kris Bright | Tom Jackson, Scott Hilliar, Joel Stevens)
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 0-0
v. Team Wellington (N) won 1-0 (Callum McCowatt)

2018-19
v. Team Wellington (H) won 4-3 (Cam Howieson, Javier Lopez, Dan Morgan, Micah Lea'alafa | Mario Barcia, Hamish Watson 2)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 2-1 (Maro Bonsu-Maro 2 | Aaron Clapham)
v. Team Wellington (H) lost 1-3 (Angel Berlanga | Angus Kilkolly, Jack-Henry Sinclair, Joel Stevens)

2019-20
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2 (Myer Bevan, Logan Rogerson | Ollie Bassett, Hamish Watson)
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 0-0