AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC skipper Cam Howieson heaps praise on team-mate Yousif Al-Kalisy after today's 3-1 win over Team Wellington.
Al-Kalisy has been quietly accumulating experience this season and has now made 36 appearances having scored two goals in a midfield led by Howieson.
"I think it was a great team performance and everyone played their part but Yousif Al-Kalisy has come on in leaps and bounds as a player and you could see how effective he is with and without the ball.
"It was a very pleasing result today and we always knew it was going to be tough. I'm very happy with the three points and hopefully we can carry that on to next week.
"We lost to Canterbury United and we'll be looking to break down their defence this time and show the patience and quality thats required to beat a very difficult opponent," he said.
Coach Jose Figueira was equally satisfied with lifting the Charity Cup and picking up maximum points but warned his side that while it was a good day there was a lot of work left to be done in the last ever season of the ISPS Handa Premiership.
"I was delighted with the performance. Today was a really strong performance - the first half, outside of Hamish Watson hitting the crossbar, I thought we limited them to very little.
"I thought we were controlled, we adapted to the shape they brought to us, we were very organised and dangerous going forward and we did well with our shape. It was a great game, a great performance and great to keep this winning run going and we have a six point gap.
"I told the players to enjoy the moment but let's keep this going.
"I thought the Hamish Watson goal was an absolute cracker. It was a misplaced pass by us but it was a top quality finish by a top quality player but from us, as a team, we looked very coordinated and played with real verve and I'm delighted they could play football and win games.
"We slipped up down there and the group will want to make amends for that and keep this winning run going next week," he said.
Ends
Match Result
ISPS Handa Premiership/NZF Charity Cup
Sunday 7 February, 2021
Auckland City FC 3 (Dylan MANICKUM 50', Cam HOWIESON 70'-pen, Logan ROGERSON 72')
Team Wellington 1 (Hamish WATSON 75')
HT: 0-0.
AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c) (8. Albert RIERA 82'), 10. Dylan MANICKUM (9. Kayne VINCENT 72'), 14. Jordan VALE, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 19. Logan ROGERSON (13. Dre VOLLENHOVEN 72'), 22. Mohamed AWAD.
SUBS NOT USED: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 4. Mario BILEN.
COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.
Sun 20 October 2024, v Western Suburbs, Endeavour Park, 1.30pm
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | AC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
2 | NC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 5 | |
3 | WP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
4 | WO | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
5 | CS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 4 | |
6 | BU | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 | |
7 | CT | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
8 | ES | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | |
9 | WS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | |
10 | WE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 1 |