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Navy Blues eye Cashmere test at Kiwitea

Friday 13 October 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC will be looking to maintain their perfect record in the 2023 National League when they host Cashmere Technical in Round 4 of the competition on Saturday afternoon.

City produced a stunning late comeback overturning a two-goal deficit to record a 4-2 win over Napier City Rovers on the road last week and make it three wins from three National League matches.

The Navy Blues are the only team with maximum nine points after three rounds and they return to Kiwitea this Saturday hoping for three more points when they host Cashmere Technical

The Christchurh-based club sit in fifth place in the competition ladder following one win, one defeat and last weekend’s 3-all draw against Wellington Olympic.

City head coach Albert Riera is adamant his side can’t afford another slow start and he is acutely aware of the visitors’ attacking threat with the likes of 2022 Southern League Golden Boot and 2023 Southern League Golden Ball winner Garbhan Coughlan.

“They have a few players that are very dangerous upon front, Coughlan obviously is one of them. I actually played against him many years ago when he was playing for Southern United, so we all know the threat they present, especially him and we are very aware of it,” Riera said.

“In the National League you play against teams that usually win more than lose in their own regional league so they are capable of beating everyone and you have to be fully focussed on every detail and aspect off the game,” the City coach added.

Last week Cashmere raced to a two-goal lead against Olympic inside the opening fifteen minutes and Riera is wary of the visitors’s ability to be dangerous from the outset.

“Against Olympic they started vert well and it’s a good example and a good reminder for us that we have to start from the get go to be fully focussed,” Riera warned.

HEAD TO HEAD - CASHMERE TECHNICAL

The two sides have only faced each other once before during the 2022 National League with goals by Ryan De Vries and Adam Mitchell handing Auckland City FC a 2-0 win at Kiwitea Street.

8 October 2022
v. Cashmere Technical FC (H) won 2-0 (Ryan De Vries, Adam Mitchell)

CLUB HONOURS
CHATHAM CUP WINNERS 2013, 2014, 2021
SOUTHERN LEAGUE WINNERS 2021, 2018

RECENT FORM

NATIONAL LEAGUE
7 October v. Wellington Olympic (H) drew 3-3
30 September v. Petone FC (A) won 1-5
24 September v. Auckland United FC (H) lost 1-2

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
3 September v. Christchurch United (A) won 1-3
29 August v. Ferrymead Bays FC (H) drew 2-2
12 August v. Dunedin City Royals FC (A) won 1–4
5 August v. Selwyn United FC (H) won 3-1

Match Details
National League Championship Rd 4
Saturday 14 October 2023
Auckland City FC v Cashmere Technical FC
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham Kick-off: 2.00pm 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