AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Super substitute Reid Drake scored a brace to hand Auckland City FC a dramatic 3-1 victory over Auckland United FC in the Dominion Road Derby.
Both City and United started the day in first and second with only a point separating them but with the Navy Blues having a game in hand up their sleeve against Bay Olympic.
As expected, United threw everything into a whirlwind opening half hour and goalkeeper Conor Tracey was forced made a vital save early on.
Tracey, now with a run of games under his belt, proved critical for the home side pulling off a series of important blocks.
But City also blew some good chances of their own including one goal mouth melee that saw Angus Kilkolly, Emiliano Tade and Mohamed Awad denied by desperate defending and brave goalkeeping by Mack Waite.
84' | 2-1
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) May 29, 2021
GOAL!!! Reid Drake fires home for his brace and the #NavyBlues are back in front. #ACvAU #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #DominionRoadDerby pic.twitter.com/ckDbc2NorE
In a big blow for Auckland City FC's season, Tade hobbled off just before half time in what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
With City forced into a reshuffle, Dylan Manickum came on for Tade and during the period of readjustment, United's dominance receded.
José Figueira then made an inspired switch bringing on the experienced Reid Drake for Ilham Hameedi and the dividend paid was immediate.
Mohamed Awad went on a mazy run before gently lifting an ingenious lofted pass through for Drake who kept calm and slotted past Waite for the first goal in the Dominion Road Derby.
City enjoyed the advantage until United levelled when the home side failed to clear a corner and Kingsley Sinclair headed beyond Tracey.
But City, and substitute Reid, were not to be denied their moment. A ball swung into the United penalty area found the midfielder unmarked at the far post and he calmly swept home with six minutes left to play.
With United throwing caution to the wind, Manickum broke clear, found Angus Kilkolly, who slammed home City's third goal and made it seven consecutive games in a row where the former Central United FC forward has scored.
Auckland City FC's next game is at Kiwitea Street when the Navy Blues make their debut in the Chatham Cup when they play host to Ellerslie AFC on Saturday 5 June, 2021.
The game kicks off at 2.00pm NZDT.
Ends
Match Result
Northern League
Saturday 29 May 2021
Auckland City FC 3 (Reid DRAKE 58', 84', Angus KILKOLLY 90+5')
Auckland United FC 1 (Kingsley SINCLAIR 70')
HT: 0-0.
AC: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY (2. Mario ILICH 72'), 19. Ilham HAMEEDI (11. Reid DRAKE 57'), 20. Emiliano TADE (10. Dylan MANICKUM 43'), 22. Mohamed AWAD, 23. Alfie ROGERS.
SUBS NOT USED: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 3. Adam MITCHELL.
COACH: José FIGUEIRA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
S&C COACH: Adria CASALS
ANALYST: Jarrod WALLACE/Dan GORDON
OTHER RESULTS
Birkenhead United 2-2 Manukau United
West Coast Rangers 0-4 Eastern Suburbs AFC
North Shore United 2-2 Northern Rovers
Melville United 0-1 Bay Olympic
Western Springs Hamilton Wanderers
Sun 13 October 2024, v Cashmere Technical, Kiwitea Street, 2.00pm
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | AC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | |
2 | NC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | |
3 | ES | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
4 | WP | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | |
5 | WS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |
6 | CT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
7 | WO | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
8 | BU | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | |
9 | WE | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | |
10 | CS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 |