De Vries reaches milestone as league leaders march on

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 1 July 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC goal machine Ryan De Vries has followed in the footsteps of Keryn Jordan and Angus Kilkolly to become only the third player in the club’s history to score in ten consecutive games as the Navy Blues crusised past the West Coast Rangers 3-0 in Round 15 of the Northern League at Huapai Reserve.

Windy and showery conditions greeted the two sides at West Auckland’s Huapai Domain with the visitors quick to settle into their task by dominating early possession and territory before calling the Rangers’ Ukranian keeper Kyryl Bolharyn into action courtesy of a well-struck drive by Regont Murati.

With all eyes on De Vries chasing Auckland City history, the in-form striker didn’t disappoint to give his side the lead in the 21st minute with a sublime finish to match Jordan and Kilkolly’s effort of scoring in ten games in a row.

Remarkably De Vries has now netted 19 times in his past ten games, including three hat-tricks.

The Navy Blues, playing in their yellow and white away colours, kept pressing forward with Liam Gillion, De Vries and Mario Ilich all keeping the Rangers’ custodian busy.

And the pressure paid dividends ten minutes after the half-time break with Murati producing a cool finish from inside the box for his second goal in as many games.

Gillion, who scored a brace against Manurewa in City’s 7-0 win on Wednesday night, put the result beyond any doubt with a sublime free-kick following a foul on Angus Kilkolly at the edge of the box.

With the points in the bag, young City keeper Joe Wallis pulled off four quality saves in quick succession at the other end to ensure his side walked off the pitch with another clean sheet, their seventh in a row.

The Navy Blues will now take a break from the Northern League as they visit Western Springs at Westmere in Round 4 of the Chatham Cup next Saturday.

Ends

Match Result
Northern League Round 15
Saturday 1 July 2023
Huapai Reserve
West Coast Rangers FC : 0
Auckland City FC: 3 (Ryan DE VRIES 21’, Regont MURATI 56’, Liam GILLION 67’)

HT: 0-1

AC - 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, (6- Dan MORGAN, 73'), 7- Cam HOWIESON (c), 11- Ryan DE VRIES, (22- Tong ZHOU 59''), 12- Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 16-.Joe LEE, (9- Angus KILKOLLY 46'), 19-Liam GILLION, 26- Rayan TAYEB

SUBS NOT USED - 1-Conor TRACEY(GK), 14- Jordan VALE

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