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Preview - Maximum points crucial for City

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 4 November 2022

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC coach Albert Riera has only one focus ahead of tomorrow's critical National League Championship clash with Wellington Phoenix.

City lost just its second game of the calendar year in last week's 3-2 loss to Auckland United FC and need a win to keep up pressure on the top two teams as the race for a Grand Final berth and qualification for the OFC Champions League intensifies.

Standing between City and that objective is a very competitive Wellington Phoenix team rippling with young talent that has also proved to be a tough prospect for clubs in the top tier.

Riera said that the feeling in the City camp remains upbeat despite the recent setback.

"The team is good and feeling confident and optimism is good. We didn't get the result we wanted last week but that's the reality.

"Football is about minimising your mistakes and optimising the mistakes of your opponents and I thought Auckland United did that well against us.

"Looking back, I felt we played very positively with a lot of energy and we tried to press high and the players gave everything.

"We addressed the result with the players and they are working hard and remain positive.

"The players have faced a lot of obstacles this season and overcome them and we're optimistic headed into the next game with the Wellington Phoenix," he said.

Wellington Phoenix are buoyant after a 3-1 win over Christchurch United and they can also point to a 2-2 draw with highflying Auckland United as indicators they are far from an auxiliary outfit making up the numbers.

Riera is more than aware of what Chris Greenacre's team bring to the contest.

"Wellington Phoenix are a team that brings a lot of energy and it is going to be a very tough game.

"They have very talented players who want to showcase their abilities.

"It's going to be a big challenge because Chris has the team moving positively and is doing a great job. They've had some good performances but we're ready to go.

"We want to impose our game, our football, on the match.

"It's a very important game for us we have to be calm and do what we do which is what has been working for us in what has been a successful season for us so far - we don't want to stop no," he said.

Riera enjoyed three years with the Wellington Phoenix as a professional and enjoyed a great relationship with the club's fans and although he has long since passed through the hurdle of facing his old club as a player, now he must do so as a coach.

"It's very special for me to face the Wellington Phoenix as a player and now as a coach. I have very fond memories of my three seasons with the club in the A League.

"One of the highlights of my football career was playing for the Wellington Phoenix but now the aim is to take three points from the game and that is ou sole focus," Riera said.

The game kicks off at 1.00pm NZDT on Saturday 5 November 2022.

Ends

Match Details
National League Championship
Saturday 5 November 2022
Auckland City FC v Wellington Phoenix
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 1.00pm NZDT

AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Christian GRAY, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Ryan DE VRIES, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 16. Joe LEE, 17. Reid DRAKE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 22. Adam BELL, 24. Cam BROWN (GK).

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

ABOUT WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Wellington Phoenix participation in the top tier of New Zealand football has taken on several different forms over the past decade with participation in the now defunct ASB Phoenix Challenge followed by a spell in the New Zealand Football Championship that yielded mixed results but provided the club with an opportunity to blood youngsters for development, many of whom reached first team football or international recognition. The current Wellington Phoenix side is made up of members of the New Zealand U-19 side that recently won the OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti and qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia next year.

HEAD COACH - CHRIS GREEANCRE

One of the best foreign imports into New Zealand football as a player, Chris Greenacre has excelled as a coach in the Wellington Phoenix set-up after he took over the reigns from Paul Temple. Greenacre guided the team through the Central League as part of the club's relationship with Lower Hutt and has so far put out a team that has proved more tha a handful for opponents in the New Zealand Football Championship this summer.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Normally this section is devoted to the identification of a specific player that could be one to watch in the upcoming game but that is a category that could easily be filled by any one of the Wellington Phoenix regular starters. The bulk of the team has won international age group honours with New Zealand and so a cursory glance at their squad list in our online match programme is useful.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

2010-11
v. Auckland City FC (A) drew 1-1

2012-13
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 1-3

2014-15
v. Auckland City FC (A) won 3-1
v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 0-7

2015-16
v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 1-3
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 2-4

2016-17
v. Auckland City FC (H) won 1-0
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 0-2

2017-18
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 0-4
v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 0-2

2018-19
v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 1-3
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 1-2

2019-20
v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 1-3
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 2-3

2020-21
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 1-4
v. Auckland City FC (H) drew 1-1

WELLINGTON PHOENIX - CURRENT FORM

01.10.22 v. Napier City Rovers (A) lost 0-1
09.10.22 v. Auckland United (H) drew 2-2
16.10.22 v. Melville United (H) drew 1-1
22.10.22 v. Christchurch United (A) won 3-1
29.10.22 v. Miramar Rangers (H) lost 2-3

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