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City seal top spot to shatter home record
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC has finished top of the National League Championship after a 2-0 win over Melville United at Kiwitea Street today.
Assistant coach Ivan Vicelich was in sole charge of City following the absence of Albert Riera who chose to be with partner Alicia Porras and their new baby boy, Pol.
It was also the final match for Melville United coach Sam Wilkinson who helped guide United to fifth place, a Chatham Cup final and a Lotto NRFL 1st Division title.
There was also the possibility of Melville United legend and former All White defender Aaron Scott calling time on his playing career.
A poignant moment's silence was observed for Janak Patel the suprette operator who was slain on Wednesday in Sandringham.
City chose to rest Cam Howieson and Jordan Vale but it made little impact on a team that played with verve and style in an electric first half.
VIDEO - RYAN DE VRIES GOAL
15' | 1-0
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 26, 2022
GOAL!!! Ryan De Vries with a well worked finish past Max Tommy opens the scoring for the #NavyBlues #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/2TAqk4xGaL
The opening goal came after 15 minutes when Sam Brotherton played Gerard Garriga into space before he broke the United lines with a superb pass that allowed Ryan De Vries to clip home a brilliant finish past Max Tommy.
City were a constant threat down both flanks through Takuya Iwata and Liam Gillion with Iwata, now 40, turning in a superb display.
While a few line calls went against the visitors there was no doubt about the penalty kick five minutes into the second half after a ball appeared to strike a Melville defender on the arm.
Joe Lee stepped up and made no mistake from the mark for his tenth goal of the season in his 38th match for the club to seal the win.
The match was a milestone event for substitute Aidan Carey who made his 50th appearance for the first team while Dylan Manickum made his 99th appearance, setting up a century milestone for the grand final against Wellington Olympic on Sunday 4 December at Mount Smart Stadium.
The win also gave Auckland City FC it's 11th consecutive league title going back to 2013-14 season under Ramon Tribulietx.
Tribulietx guided City to six straight NZFC first placings with Jose Figueira earning two NZFC and one Northern League title to Riera's Northern League and National League Championship top place finishes.
NEWS - Give-A-Little page set up for Janak Patel
— Central United Football Club (@CentralUtd_FC) November 25, 2022
A Give-a-little page has been set up by the Dairy & Business Owner’s Group Incorporated for the Sandringham dairy worker Janak Patel who was slain on Wednesday:https://t.co/fZODxCN8vY
#StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/EC9MkU4pCH
The win was also Auckland City FC's 19th straight home win of the year and the club's 50th home game in a row undefeated.
City have now won 34 home games in a row since the 2-2 draw with Waitakere United on 27 February 2021.
City's last defeat in a league or Cup tie at home was on 24 March 2019 in a 3-1 NZFC semi-final home defeat to Team Wellington.
Ivan Vicelich was understandably delighted.
"I'm happy for the club, the staff, the supporters and the players for the incredible effort everyone has put in across the course of the year.
"We spoke about wanting to compete for every trophy available to us at the start of the year and we wanted to be competing right to the last game and here we are.
"The players have shown their desire again today. They started very well, we were patient, but attacking and created chances.
65' | 2-0
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 26, 2022
Congratulations to Aidan Carey who has come on for his 50th appearance for the #NavyBlues replacing Alfie Rogers about 10 minutes ago. #ACvMU #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/c1QQVULVOb
"For the first goal Gerard played a great ball for Ryan and he found a gap and found a change of pace and scored a wonderful goal, that's the Ryan De Vries everyone loves watching.
"Takuya Iwata was incredible. I know how hard it is to keep your standards that high when you hit your late thirties but Taku is now doing it at 40.
"It's a time of miracles for Albert and Alicia and the players had to step up with Albert away and they performed very well and showed a great attitude and they kept their standards high.
"The league is going to miss Sam Wilkinson. He is a coach who focuses on every detail and he has a big passion for the game which is great.
"The league will miss him, Melville United will miss him. Melville won four games in a row coming into today which is hard to do but Sam's team achieved that by playing attractive attacking football.
"We wish Sam all the best for his future endeavours because he definitely adds something to this league with his knowledge and coaching ability," Vicelich said.
Next week's grand final with Wellington Olympic will be played on Sunday 4 December 2022 at Mount Smart Stadium.
Ends
Match Result
National League Championship
Saturday 26 November 2022
Auckland City FC 2 (Ryan DE VRIES 15', Joe LEE 51-pen)
Melville United 0
HT: 1-0.
AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 3. Adam MITCHELL (c)(20. Emiliano TADE 52'), 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 10. Dylan MANICKUM (4. Christian GRAY 52'), 11. Ryan DE VRIES (9. Angus KILKOLLY 61'), 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 13. Takuya IWATA, 16. Joe LEE, 17. Reid DRAKE, 19. Liam GILLION, 23. Alfie ROGERS (15. Aidan CAREY 61').
SUBS NOT USED: 24. Cam BROWN (GK).
OTHER RESULTS
Played Friday 25 November 2022
Christchurch United 4-1 Cashmere Technical
Saturday 26 November 2022
Auckland United 3-2 Napier City Rovers
Auckland City FC 2-0 Melville United
Sunday 27 November 2022
Miramar Rangers v Wellington Olympic
Wellington Phoenix v Birkenhead United
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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