City turn on style against Manukau

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 15 June 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC scored five unanswered goals against Manukau United FC to cap a memorable night for a number of Navy Blues stars in Wednesday night’s Northern League clash at Mangere Centre Park.

Ryan De Vries carried on with his rich goalscoring form courtesy of an impressive hat-trick while Spanish maestro Gerard Garriga grabbing a brace to mark his 50th match for the club on the same night when Adam Mitchell celebrated his 100th appearance for the defending New Zealand champions.

De Vries got the ball rolling with a classy finish in the 3rd minute and the in-form striker struck again 15 minutes later with another superb touch only for the assistant referee’s flag to go up for offside.

There was no doubt about Garriga’s emphatic strike to give his side some breathing space before City keeper Joe Wallis made a fantastic save from point blank range at the other end of the field.

With half-time approaching De Vries rose to head home from a corner making it 3-0 at the break.

And the Navy Blues iconic number 11 wasn’t finished yet as he completed his hat-trick with another header in the 59th minute giving no chance to Manukau custodian Xander Hart.

This was De Vries’ tenth goal he scored in an impressive run that sees him netting in each of his six previous games in a row.

Garriga marked his own 50th milestone scoring from a corner to make it 5-nil with his second of the match while Mitchell at the centre of the the Navy Blues defence celebrated his 100th appearance for the club with a clean sheet.

City will now turn their attention to Saturday’s Round 3 Chatham Cup tie against Northern Conference outfit Bucklands Beach at Kiwitea street.

Ends

Match Result
Northern League Round 11
Wednesday 14 June 2023
Mangere Centre Park, Mangere
Manukau United FC: 0
Auckland City FC: 5 (Ryan DE VRIES, 3’, 42’, 59’, Gerard GARRIGA 37’, 83’)

HT: 0-3

AC - 24. Joe WALLIS (GK), 2. Mario ILICH (c) (15. Aiden CAREY 66’), 3. Adam MITCHELL (25. Takuya IWATA, 61’) 4. Christian GRAY. 6. Dan MORGAN, 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 11. Ryan DE VRIES (9. Angus KILKOLLY, 61’), 12. Regont MURATI, 16. Joe LEE, 19. Liam GILLION, 26. Rayan TAYEB.

SUBS NOT USED 1. Conor TRACEY, 5. Michael DEN HEIJER

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