Navy Blues face double-header

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 6 April 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC will play two games in four days as they prepare to host Birkenhead United AFC on Friday at Kiwitea street followed by another home encounter against West Coast Rangers FC on Easter Monday.

After the opening two rounds of the Northern League the Navy Blues sit at the top of the competition ladder with maximum points while Birkenhead kicked off their domestic campaign with a defeat before thrashing Manukau United 7-0 in South Auckland last Saturday.

If history is anything to go by Friday’s clash is shaping up to be an entertaining affair with the two rivals' previous six meetings producing a total 33 goals including three Northern League wins as well as a defeat for the Navy Blues, a National League Championship stalemate and a Chatham Cup victory on penalties for City following a 2-all draw.

The reigning champions' head coach Albert Riera is expecting another tightly contested encounter.

“They are always very tough, there isn’t a game I can recall which was easy against them. Exciting games with a lot of chances with a strong battle in every corner of the pitch.

We are ready for the battle, we know what’s going to happen, it’s going to be very hard and the players know that,” explained Riera.

Meanwhile Navy Blues youngsters Rayan Tayeb and goalkeeper Joe Wallis are both hoping for more game time during the busy Easter period after making impressive first team debuts in their side’s convincing 5-1 victory over Bay Olympic last weekend.

“It’s a double header weekend, it’s really hard on the body so there might be an opportunity for me to have another game. I’d be ready for it, yeah I’d be training hard for it and hopefully it will happen,” said Tayeb.

Wallis who joined the club from Western Springs as City’s number 2 keeper behind Conor Tracey is also ready to grab any chance coming his way.

“I want Conor to do well as the number 1 but if I get any opportunity to play I want to do my best, and yeah, we will see what happens,” said the young gloveman.

Ends

Match Details
Northern League Round 3
Friday 7 April 2023
Auckland City FC v Birkenhead United
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham|
Kick-off: 2.00pm NZST

AC SQUAD (SEASON 2023): 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 5-Michael DEN HEIJER, 6-Dan MORGAN, 7-Cam HOWIESON (c), 8-Gerard GARRIGA, 9-Angus KILKOLLY, 10-Dylan MANICKUM, 11-Ryan DE VRIES, 12-Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 14-Jordan VALE, 15- Aidan CAREY, 16-Joseph LEE, 17- Ilham HAMEEDI, 19-Liam GILLION, 20- Emiliano TADE, 21- Adam BELL, 22-Tong ZHOU. 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 25-Takuya IWATA, 26-Rayan TAYEB, 27 Stipe UKICH

COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
TECHNICAL: Jarrod WALLACE
LOGISTICS: Colin COOK
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE