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NZF Charity Cup up for grabs

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 6 February 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - NZF Charity Cup won't distract Jose Figueira's Navy Blues as they take aim at Team Wellington in the ISPS Handa Premiership double banger at Kiwitea Street on Sunday.

Auckland City FC's form in the second half of the season has been impressive with the early season wobbles at Hamilton and Canterbury seemingly in the rearview mirror.

Coach Jose Figueira puts the improvement down to two key factors.

"The difference has been two things - first, time. Time together as a team, time for the new players to fully integrate, time for some others to get over some knocks and niggles.

"The second is the application of the players. The way they've trained and the way they believe in the way we want to play and build those applications on the pitch.

"I was always confident things would come together. Its great to see we're in a good moment. But the feeling is, not just myself, but from the players that there is more to come which is very exciting," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Table topping Team Wellington were undefeated after nine rounds of the competition but have struggled to convert draws into victories and had their first loss of the season in the 4-3 defeat to Waitakere United.

Scott Hales' side have otherwise won four and drawn five including four draws on the road. The David Farrington Park-based club have also kept only one clean sheet.

Spearheading their attack is former Kiwitea Street favourite and Portugal age-group international striker Joao Moreira.

Moreira, 34, scored 43 goals in 69 appearances for the Navy Blues after joining the club in the 2014-15 season, forming a deadly triumvirate with Emiliano Tade and Ryan De Vries.

Moreira underlined his threat when he scored in the 2-2 draw between the clubs back on 6 December 2020 but they have yet to fail to hit the back of the net.

Figueira has a healthy respect for what the visitors will bring to Kiwitea Street on Sunday.

"Team Wellington have a number of threats - Hamish Watson, Joao Moreira, Sam Mason-Smith and Andy Bevin, players in the attacking line that can make a real difference and score all types of goals.

"Those players are flanked by Rory McKeown on one side and Jack-Henry Sinclair on the other, so they pose a lot of threats and score different types of goals so we need to tweak the way we defend.

"We've got to be very focused without the ball in those transition moments when we turn the ball over or we've lost the ball. Also, set plays, Team Wellington's physicality, directness of their play and the quality of their delivery mean they're very dangerous at set plays, too. We've got to be really switched on.

"The margins are always tight when two big teams face each other. In our case, both teams have a lot of experience, quality players and are tactically very well set up. Normally those ingredidents lead to a pretty cagey affair.

"The small details are usually in both penalty boxes and for us we've addressed some of those and our quality and precision and responsibility in those areas are getting back to where they should be.

"Those moments are going to make all the difference on Sunday and when they come about, we take them," he said.

Adding extra spice to the recipe will be the NZF Charity Cup. Auckland City FC have won the trophy six times, the most recent in the 2-0 win over Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm last March. Trophy success is healthy according to Figueira but he says the priority must be to pick up maximum points from the league encounter first.

"It sounds very cliche but we take each game as it comes. We go into this game with another strong performance behind us and if we can get a positive result we can further extend our advantage coming towards the final few rounds of the season and cement that top spot.

"If we pick up trophies along the way then thats the added bonus but our focus is on the points. We want to continue our unbeaten run in the league and carry on our winning momentum and those objectives won't change this Sunday just because the NZF Charity Cup is up for grabs," he said.

Auckland City FC are expected to see the return of Dylan Manickum to the squad following a minor injury that kept him out of the win over Hawke's Bay United. Kayne Vincent and Sam Brotherton continue to work their way towards full match readiness while Emiliano Tade has shown encouraging signs that he may be fit before the end of the regular season.

The match kicks off at 4pm NZDT and is live on Sky Sport.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Sunday 7 February, 2021
Auckland City FC v Team Wellington
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Kick-off: 4.00pm NZDT
Live on Sky Sport

AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Albert RIERA, 9. Kayne VINCENT, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Tom DOYLE, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 13. Dre VOLLENHOVEN, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY, 16. Yousif Ali AL-KALISY, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 19. Logan ROGERSON, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Maro BONSU-MARO, 22. Alfie ROGERS, 23. Mohamed AWAD.

COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.

OTHER FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Saturday 6 February, 2021
Wellington Phoenix 1-2 Hamilton Wanderers

Waitakere United v Eastern Suburbs AFC
Seddon Fields, Auckland - kick-off: 2.00pm NZDT

Canterbury United v Hawke's Bay United
English Park, Christchurch - kick-off: 4.00pm NZDT

MILESTONES
This marks the final time Team Wellington and Auckland City FC will play in a top flight National League regular season 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 48th meeting between the two clubs with Auckland City FC winning 29, drawing 8 and losing 10. The clubs have met five times in the NZF Charity Cup with the Navy Blues winning three and losing two. 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 55, Auckland City FC won 33, drew 12, lost 10.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS - NZF CHARITY CUP

2018**
v. Team Wellington (H) won 4-3 (Cam HOWIESON, Javier LOPEZ, Dan MORGAN, Micah LEA'ALAFA | Mario BARCIA, Hamish WATSON 2)

2017**
v. Team Wellington (A) lost 1-3 (Kris BRIGHT | OG, Scott HILLIAR, Joel STEVENS)

2016**
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-1 (Ryan DE VRIES, Emiliano TADE 2 | Ben HARRIS)
** Also doubled up as ISPS Handa Men's Premiership matches

2015
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-0 (Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, Micah LEA'ALAFA 2)

2014
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2* (Tim PAYNE, Emiliano TADE | Cole PEVERLEY, Michaek GWYTHER)
*Team Wellington won 4-3 on penalties

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

2020-21
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 2-2 (Logan ROGERSON 2 | Joao MOREIRA, Hamish WATSON)

2019-20
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2 (Myer BEVAN, Logan ROGERSON | Ollie BASSETT, Hamish WATSON)
v. Team Wellington (A) drew 0-0

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

2012-13
v. Team Wellington (H) won 3-2 (Chris BALE, Manel EXPOSITO, Ivan VICELICH | Henry FA'ARODO, Cory CHETTLEBURGH)
v. Team Wellington (A) won 3-2 (Adam DICKINSON, Simon ARMS, Daniel KOPRIVCIC | Darren CHERITON, Hamish WATSON)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

NZF CHARITY CUP FINALS

2019-20
Eastern Suburbs AFC 0-2 Auckland City FC (Brian KALTAK, Myer BEVAN)

2018-19
Auckland City FC 4-3 Team Wellington (Cam HOWIESON, Javier LOPEZ, Dan MORGAN, Micah LEA'ALAFA | Mario BARCIA, Hamish WATSON 2)

2017-18
Team Wellington 3-1 Auckland City FC (Own Goal, Scott HILLIAR, Joel STEVENS | Kris BRIGHT)

2016-17
Auckland City FC 3-1 Team Wellington (Ryan DE VRIES, Emiliano TADE 2 | Ben HARRIS)

2015-16
Auckland City FC 3-0 Team Wellington (Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, Micah LEA'ALAFA 2)

2014-15
Team Wellington 2-2* Auckland City FC (Cole PEVERLEY, Michael GWYTHER | Tim PAYNE, Emiliano TADE)
*Team Wellington won 4-3 on penalties

2013-14
Auckland City FC 4-1 Waitakere United (Emiliano TADE, Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Andrew MILNE, Roy KRISHNA | Jordan LOWDON)

2012-13
Waitakere United 2-1 Auckland City FC (George SLEFENDORFAS, Maksim MANKO | Ivan VICELICH)

2011-12
Auckland City FC 3-2 Waitakere United (Alex FENERIDIS, Ivan VICELICH, Daniel KOPRIVCIC | Allan PEARCE, Tim MEYERS)

NZF CHARITY CUP WINS - BY CLUB
6 - Auckland City FC
2 - Team Wellington
1 - Waitakere United

NZF CHARITY CUP WINS - BY COACH
2019-20 - Jose FIGUEIRA (Auckland City FC)
2018-19 - Ramon TRIBULIETX (Auckland City FC)
2017-18 - Jose FIGUEIRA (Team Wellington)
2016-17 - Ramon TRIBULIETX (Auckland City FC)
2015-16 - Ramon TRIBULIETX (Auckland City FC)
2014-15 - Matt CALCOTT (Team Wellington)
2013-14 - Ramon TRIBULIETX (Auckland City FC)
2012-13 - Paul MARSHALL (Waitakere United)
2011-12 - Ramon TRIBULIETX/Aaron McFARLAND (Auckland City FC)

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