Flying Dragons chase history at Kiwitea Street

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 12 February 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Playoff chasers Canterbury United can take one step closer to the semifinals and create history when they take on Auckland City FC at Kiwitea Street this Sunday.

A Jacob Richards goal gave Lee Padmore's Dragons their first home win over Auckland City FC since 2008-09 when goals by Tom Lancaster and Gareth Turnbull cancelled out a Keryn Jordan strike.

Richards goal ended the Navy Blues 17-match unbeaten run against Canterbury United as the Dragons resurgence continued after they beat Hawke's Bay United 2-1 at English Park.

Padmore's team is on a five match unbeaten run which has seen the Dragons rise from seventh to fifth and building momentum at just the right time.

If they can beat Auckland City FC on Sunday, not only would it be just the second time Canterbury United have gone unbeaten against the Navy Blues in the regular season, it would be just the third time they have registered back-to-back wins in the fixture.

Like the Dragons, Auckland City FC is in a rich vein of form having racked up a six game unbeaten streak and while coach Jose Figueira wants that to continue, he is wary of the roll his opponents are on.

"Canterbury United will look to make life as difficult as possible for us.

"Our last clash with the Dragons saw Lee's side come out on top and so its important we show we've learned a lesson from that match on Sunday.

"With a bit more luck, Canterbury may have turned one or two of those draws into wins, so

I expect a similar intensity from them as our previous one in Christchurch.

"Lee has a very well organised team, a team that is tactically flexible and a team with some exciting players that can turn a game in an instant.

"My message to our players has been to tell them to keep striving to push each other and continue to push the boundaries of speed and precision in our own game.

"We know that when we move the ball with purpose, are coordinated in our movements and combination play, we are a handful for any team.

"This, plus our intensity and hunger to recover the ball back, will be vitally important for us to continue our unbeaten run and pick up a positive result," he said.

Elsewhere in the ISPS Handa Premiership, Eastern Suburbs AFC face a major test when they hit the capital to face Team Wellington on Saturday. Suburbs season has been inconsistent and now the Hoani Edwards-coached outfit have a tough run in where they face two teams in the top four and a Hawke's Bay United side desperate to figure in the playoff shake up.

On Sunday, Waitakere United travel south to face Hamilton Wanderers at Porritt Stadium where a win would see Paul Hobson's team leapfrog Wanderers into the top four.

Hawke's Bay United will see their home clash with Wellington Phoenix as an absolute must-win showdown if they're to keep their fading playoff hopes alive another week.

The match kicks off at 2pm NZDT at Kiwitea Street.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Sunday 14 February, 2021
Auckland City FC v Canterbury United
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 2pm NZDT

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

HEAD COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.

OTHER FIXTURES

Saturday 13 February, 2021
Team Wellington v Eastern Suburbs AFC
David Farrington Park, Wellington - kick-off: 1pm NZDT

Sunday 14 February, 2021
Hawke's Bay United v Wellington Phoenix
Bluewater Stadium, Napier - kick-off: 1.00pm NZDT

Hamilton Wanderers v Waitakere United
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton - kick-off: 4.00pm NZDT

MILESTONES & STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Aaron Clapham is the top scorer in this fixture for Canterbury United with seven goals.
Grant Young is the top scorer in this fixture for Auckland City FC with 13 goals.
The only player to score a hat-trick in this fixture is Grant Young who did it twice, once each in 2004-05 and 2008-09.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

2020-21
v. Canterbury United (A) lost 0-1 (- | Jacob RICHARDS)

2019-20
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-0 (Mario BILEN, Myer BEVAN, Cam HOWIESON)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 5-1 (Emiliano TADE, Brian KALTAK, Myer BEVAN, Jordan VALE, Alfie ROGERS | Aaron CLAPHAM)

2018-20
v. Canterbury United (H) won 4-1 (Dan MORGAN, Javier LOPEZ, Reid DRAKE, Dylan MANICKUM | Stephen HOYLE)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 1-0 (Maro BONSU-MARO)

2017-18
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-1 (Callum McCOWATT 2, Emiliano TADE | Travis NICKLAW)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 2-0 (Emiliano TADE 2)

2016-17
v. Canterbury United (H) drew 0-0
v. Canterbury United (A) drew 2-2 (Emiliano TADE, Alfie ROGERS | Tom SCHWARZ 2)

2015-16
v. Canterbury United (H) won 4-1 (Ryan DE VRIES, Joao MOREIRA, Emiliano TADE, Mikael ALVARO | Andre DE JONG)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 3-1 (Emiliano TADE, Ryan DE VRIES, Micah LEA'ALAFA | Aaron CLAPHAM)

2014-15
v. Canterbury United (A) won 1-0 (Ryan DE VRIES)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-1 (Oscar GARCIA, Joao MOREIRA, Ivan CARRIL| Mark PEERS)

2013-14
v. Canterbury United (A) drew 0-0
v. Canterbury United (H) drew 1-1 (Adam DICKINSON | Aaron CLAPHAM)

2012-13
v. Canterbury United (H) won 5-2 (Adam DICKINSON 2, Chris BALE, Albert RIERA, Emiliano TADE | Julyan COLLETT, Aaron CLAPHAM)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 3-1 (Alex FENERIDIS, Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Emiliano TADE | Andy BARTON)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 2-1 (Chris BALE, Manel EXPOSITO | Ashley WELLBOURN)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-1 (Gustavo SOUTO 2, Adam DICKINSON | Ashley WELLBOURN)

2011-12
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-0 (Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Manel EXPOSITO, Emiliano TADE)
v. Canterbury United (A) drew 1-1 (Russell KAMO)

2010-11
v. Canterbury United (A) won 2-1 (Stu KELLY, Daniel KOPRIVCIC | Aaron CLAPHAM)
v. Canterbury United (H) lost 0-1 (Ken YAMAMOTO)

2009-10
v. Canterbury United (H) drew 1-1 (Ki-Hyung LEE | Aaron CLAPHAM)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 3-1 (Jason HAYNE, Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Matt WILLIAMS | Aaron Aaron CLAPHAM)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 2-1 (Jason HAYNE, Daniel KOPRIVCIC | Gareth ROWE)
v. Canterbury United (H) lost 0-3 (Russell KAMO 2, Andy BARTON)

2008-09
v. Canterbury United (A) lost 1-2 (Keryn JORDAN | Tom LANCASTER, Gareth TURNBULL)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 5-0 (Jonathan RAJ, Grant YOUNG 3, Milos NIKOLIC)

2007-08
v. Canterbury United (A) won 3-0 (Bryan LITTLE, Grant YOUNG 2)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 2-1 (Ki-Hyung LEE, Alex FENERIDIS | Michael FIFII)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 4-1 (Riki VAN STEEDEN, George SURI, Paul URLOVIC 2 | Tom LANCASTER)

2006-07
v. Canterbury United (A) drew 1-1 (Dean GORDON | Henry FA'ARODO)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 2-0 (Paul URLOVIC, Grant YOUNG)
v. Canterbury United (H) lost 0-3 (Henry FA'ARODO, Blair SCOULLAR 2)

2005-06
v. Canterbury United (H) lost 2-3 (Grant YOUNG, Paul URLOVIC | Brent FISHER 2, Craig SHORT)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 4-3 (Jonathan Smith, Paul URLOVIC, Chad COOMBES, Keryn JORDAN | Andy BARRON, Stu KELLY 2)
v. Canterbury United (A) lost 1-2 (Paul URLOVIC | Stu Kelly 2)
v. Canterbury United (H) won 3-0 (Keryn JORDAN, Liam MULROONEY, Grant YOUNG)
v. Canterbury United (H) drew 3-3 (Grant YOUNG, Keryn JORDAN, Chad COOMBES | Stu KELLY 2, Own Goal)

2004-05
v. Canterbury United (H) won 5-0 (Paul URLOVIC, Grant YOUNG 3, Neil SYKES)
v. Canterbury United (A) drew 1-1 (Grant YOUNG | Nathan KNOX)
v. Canterbury United (A) won 3-0 (Paul URLOVIC 2, Paul SEAMAN)

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