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United edge City in Dominion Road thriller

Monday 31 October 2022

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Defensive errors cost as Auckland United downed Auckland City FC 3-2 to leapfrog the Navy Blues into second place in the National League Championship on Saturday.

An early goal by United's Nic Zambrano set the tone for a frantic Dominion Road Derby in which a thunderstorm and torrential rain played a role in a thrilling and dramatic encounter at Keith Hay Park.

Skipper Emiliano Tade levelled just before the break with a superbly timed shot that gave Mack Waite no chance and set up a nail biting second half which didn't disappoint for neutrals.

United's Oliver Fay gave his side the lead again when he thrashed home a great shot on the run that dipped and swerved beyond Conor Tracey midway through the second half only for Tade to produce another equaliser with an exquisitely taken effort to make it 2-2 on 75 minutes.

But the game slipped away from City just moments later when a defensive mix up left Tracey picking the ball out of the net.

74' | 2-2

GOAL!!! Another wonderful finish a carbon copy of the first Navy Blues goal and it's two for Tade. #AUvAC #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/sLeZYCdTvC
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) October 29, 2022

City laid seige on the United's goal frame with three madcap efforts inside one frantic minute that saw the home side smash a clearance off their own crossbar only for City to do the same to Waite's woodwork seconds later.

Coach Albert Riera had earlier thrown on Cam Howieson and Ryan De Vries in a bid to win the game but now must contemplate the remaining four games, at least for now, from the discomfort of third place.

With Wellington Olympic beating Napier City Rovers 5-2 at Park Island, Birkenhead United thashing Cashmere Technical 5-3 at Beach Haven and United yet to lose, the National League Championship looks set for a thrilling finish.

Riera was pleased with the effort his players put in despite the disappointment of defeat.

"I can't have asked more from my players. I see them in training and know how hard they work and how hard they've worked all year to achieve what they have so far.

"Today was an exciting game of football against a very good side who has not yet lost a game in the National League Championship.

"We did everything today except win the game and in that sense it is our turn to experience the other side of the coin in football which is to accept the result.

"But I am sure that our group is going to work hard and focus on the next game which for us is at home to Wellington Phoenix on Saturday," he said.

The result gave Auckland United FC back to back Dominion Road Derby wins over City coupled with their 2-0 win over the Navy Blues in the Northern League on Saturday 3 September 2022.

The match with Wellington Phoenix kicks off at 1.00pm NZDT on Saturday 5 November 2022.

Wellington Olympic take on Auckland United at Endeavour Park in Porirua on the same day, kick-off at 3.00pm NZDT.

Birkenhead United are away to Melville United on Sunday 6 November 2022.

The match kicks off at 3.00pm NZDT.

Ends

Match Result
National League Championship
Saturday 29 October 2022
Auckland United FC 3 (Nic ZAMBRANO 5', Oliver FAY 62', Guy-Frank ESSOME PENDA 80')
Auckland City FC 2 (Emiliano TADE 44', 75')
HT: 1-1.

AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH (7. Cam HOWIESON 64'), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 9. Angus KILKOLLY (11. Ryan DE VRIES 64'), 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 16. Joe LEE, 20. Emiliano TADE (c), 22. Adam BELL (15. Aidan CAREY 54').

SUBS NOT USED: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 5. Angel BERLANGA.

COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
ANALYST: Adria CASALS
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
MANAGER: Keith COTON.
ANALYST: Jarrod WALLACE.

OTHER RESULTS

SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2022
Napier City Rovers 2-5 Wellington Olympic AFC
Wellington Phoenix 2-3 Miramar Rangers
Auckland United FC 3-2 Auckland City FC

SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 2022
Birkenhead United 5-3 Cashmere Technical
Christchurch United 2-5 Melville United