Auckland City FC complete clean sweep

Words: NZF Media / ACFC Media

Monday 5 December 2022

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC have won New Zealand Football’s men’s National League Championship Grand Final, defeating Wellington Olympic 3-2 in a tightly contested game this afternoon at Mt Smart Stadium.

The victory sees the Navy Blues claim their fourth title of the season having already won the OFC Champions League, Chatham Cup and Northern League trophies.

Alongside the club's first place finish in the league round of the National League Championship, City can lay claim to five first place finishes, this latest one their 11th consecutive first place finish in a league title race since 2013.

Wellington Olympic started brightly but Auckland City FC broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute after a goalmouth scramble saw Liam Gillion bundle the ball over the line.

Seven minutes later the Auckland side doubled their lead. A neat passing move found Gerard Garriga just inside the box who slotted home into the bottom right corner of the Olympic net.

Auckland City FC were in the ascendancy but that all changed in first half injury time as midfielder Reid Drake was sent off for a late sliding tackle.

The Navy Blues would have to play the entire second half with just ten men, a task they would meet with character and courage.

The second half saw Olympic push home their man advantage. In the 63rd minute they thought they had made the breakthrough, but the goal was ruled offside.

It wasn’t until the 77th minute that they finally made it count. A brilliant long range shot from Tor Davenport-Petersen into the top left corner of the net.

It was closely followed by another cracking effort from substitute Connor Gaul but it rebounded off the crossbar.

Two minutes from time Auckland City FC regained their two goal advantage with substitute Angus Kilkolly finishing neatly from the edge of the box after a sustained period of Wellington Olympic pressure.

The game looked done but on the 90th minute Wellington Olympic won a penalty. Captain Ben Mata stepped up and halved Auckland City FC’s lead with 5 minutes of injury time still to play.

Wellington Olympic pushed hard for a late winner but Auckland City FC held on to claim the National League Championship title.

The Steve Sumner Trophy, given to the player of the match in the Grand Final, was awarded to Auckland City FC’s Gerard Garriga.

Ends

Match Result
National League Championship Grand Final
Sunday 4 December 2022
Auckland City FC 3 (Liam GILLION 33', Gerard GARRIGA 40', Angus KILKOLLY 88')
Wellington Olympic 2 (Tor DAVENPORT-PETERSEN 77', Ben MATA 90'+1'-pen)
HT: 2-0.
Reid Drake (AC) sent off on 45'+2'

AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Ryan DE VRIES (9. Angus KILKOLLY 79'), 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 13. Takuya IWATA (17. Reid DRAKE 14'), 14. Jordan VALE, 16. Joe LEE (15. Aidan CAREY 82'), 19. Liam GILLION.

SUBS NOT USED: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 4. Christian GRAY, 6. Matt ELLIS, 22. Adam BELL.

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