Navy Blues won’t underestimate Manurewa

Words: ACFC media

Saturday 30 September 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC head coach Albert Riera says his players are well aware of the threat Manurewa will present as the Navy Blues prepare for their National League Championship encounter against the South Auckland side at Kiwitea Street on Sunday afternoon.

City will be looking to make it two wins from as many games following last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix in the capital that got their 2023 title defence off to a perfect start.

In contrast Manurewa had a disappointing opening round following a 5-2 home loss to Wellington Olympic.

Despite the three-goal defeat Paul Marshall’s charges produced 60 minutes of competitive football against the Central League title winners before Olympic netting three times in the last half hour to claim all three points.

And Riera insists his side won’t underestimate their opponents on Sunday.

“It’s a team with a lot of personality and energy, players that are buzzing, they press very quick, they are very fast in the transitions especially up front, they have three or four players who are very tricky, combine very well in their attacking third and we have to be very aware of the dangers they present,” explained the Navy Blues coach.

Riera will have a full squad to select from with a number of key players returning to fitness.

“We have Ryza [Ryan De Vries] back, Emi [Emiliano Tade] is getting back to fitness Cam [Cam Howieson] is doing very well after some niggles after a very long Northern League and it’s very nice to see them back on the grass and they all want to be part of it.

“It’s going to be very hard for me to make the decision, which is what you want because we have a fantastic squad with very good depth and again we are going to wait till the very last minute to make the decision on who is starting, even though I have a rough idea, we will keep it until the last day,” Riera said.

The two teams’ first ever meeting was a one-sided affair with the Navy Blues overpowering their South Auckland rivals 7-0 under floodlights at the Croatian Club.

Their second meeting in the penultimate round of the 2023 Northern League season in South Auckland has ended in a 2-0 win for the Navy Blues with Angus Kilkolly scoring a brilliant second half goal after the home side gifted the Navy Blues an own goal during the opening stanza.

HEAD TO HEAD - MANUREWA AFC

2023
v. Manurewa AFC (H) won 7-0 (Angus Kilkolly, Liam Gillion 2, Ryan De Vries 3, Regont Murati)
v. Manurewa AFC (A) won 0-2 (Aidan Price OG, Angus Kilkolly)

RECENT FORM

NATIONAL LEAGUE - 2023

23 September v. Wellington Olympic (H) lost 2-5

NORTHERN LEAGUE - 2023

2 September v. Bay Olympic FC (A) lost 2-1
26 August v. Auckland City FC (H) lost 0-2
19 August v. Manukau United FC (A) won 0-1
12 August v. Western Springs AFC (H) won 1-0
5 August v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 4-1

Match Details
National League Championship Rd 2
Sunday 1 October 2023
Auckland City FC v. Manurewa AFC
Kiwitea St, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT

AC 2023 NLC SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 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-Oliver COLLOTY, 18. Sebastian CIGANDA (GK), 19-Liam GILLION, 20- Emiliano TADE, 21- Adam BELL, 22-Tong ZHO, 23- Alfie ROGERS, 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 25- Michael DEN HEIJER, 26-Rayan TAYEB, 27-Stipe UKICH, 28-Takuya IWATA.

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