Stage set for top-of-the-table clash
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - League leaders Auckland City FC and second-placed Wellington Olympic are set to resume their rivalry when the two sides meet in Round 8 of the National League on Sunday afternoon at Kiwitea.
Sunday's match will be a dress rehearsal for the National League title decider with both sides securing their spot in the grand final to be played on Sunday November 26 at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
The Navy Blues qualified with two games to spare courtesy of their 2-0 win over Petone last week, which was their seventh victory from as many games, while Olympic booked their place after their nearest rivals Christchurch United were defeated 4-2 by Cashmere Technical on Friday night.
The loss by Christchurch means the Southern League champions and reigning Chatham Cup holders can no longer overhaul Olympic.
Auckland City FC beat Olympic in last season’s Grand Final, also at Mt Smart.
Also up for grabs is the Mediterranean Cup played for in games between the Navy Blues and Olympic to celebrate the two clubs Croatian and Greek roots and attachment to the Mediterranean Sea region.
The trophy was last contested in the two-legged OFC Champions League 2023 National Playoff earlier this year.
Following a tense 1-1 draw int the opening game of the tie in Wellington, Navy Blues talisman Emiliano Tade came off the bench as a second half substitute to produce a stunning performance for his side in the return leg at Kiwitea Street.
Trailing 3-1 with less 30 minutes on the clock and facing elimination from Oceania’s premier club football competition, Tade came to City’s rescue by completing a brilliant hat-trick and providing a superb assist to Angus Kilkolly to give the Navy Blues an unlikely 5-3 win.
The stakes won't be as high this weekend but Albert Riera’s men will be determined to keep their momentum going against one of the best sides of the competition, who will also been keen to put down a marker ahead of the title decider in two weeks time.
The Auckland City head coach is looking forward to the contest
“For us it’s a very important game at Kiwitea, I’m sure it’s going to be a big crowd as well, we want to first play good football and then win in front of our fans, that's always very important,” he said.
“Now we have two games remaining and knowing that we are going to be part of the grand final, the best way to prepare is to win the next game if we can and the following one which is what we all focus on.
“Every game is important because the standards we are going to set in this club, every time we represent this shirt you have to give your best that’s what we are instilling in the players’ heads and they know that, they have been part of this club for a long time and again a team like Wellington Olympic is the best test that we can have.
“They are one of the best teams in the National League so that’s why we are all motivated to play this sort of games,” added the Navy Blues head coach.
Past Mediterranean Cup encounters between City and Olympic
2023
Auckland City FC 5-3 Wellington Olympic
OFC Champions League Playoff 2nd LEG
Wellington Olympic 1-1 Auckland City FC
OFC Champions League Playoff 1st LEG
2022
Auckland City FC 3-2 Wellington Olympic
National League Championship Final
Wellington Olympic 1-2 Auckland City FC
National League Championship
Auckland City FC 3-1 Wellington Olympic
Chatham Cup Semi-Final
RECENT FORM - Wellington Olympic
NATIONAL LEAGUE
4 November v. Christchurch Utd (H) won 5-2
28 October v. Petone FC (H) won 2-1
21 October v. Auckland United (A) won 3-1
14 October v. Eastern Suburbs AFC (H) drew 2-2
7 October v. Cashmere Technical (A) drew 3-3
30 September v. Napier City Rovers AFC (H) won 7-1
24 September v.Manurewa AFC (A) won 5-2
Match Details
National League Championship R8
Sunday 12 November 2023
Auckland City FC V Wellington Olympic AFC
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3pm NZDT
AC 2023 NLC SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 5- Timothy BOULET, 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- Takuya IWATA, 22-Tong ZHO, 23- Alfie ROGERS, 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 25- Michael DEN HEIJER, 26-Rayan TAYEB, 27-Stipe UKICH, 28-Adam BELL, 29- Yuta NARUSE
COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
TECHNICAL: Jarrod WALLACE
LOGISTICS: Keith COTON
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
CHATHAM CUP FINAL
Sat 7 Sep 2024, Wellington Olympic, North Harbour Stadium, 7pm
Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 53 | 21 | 51 |
| 2 |  | WS | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 52 | 30 | 46 |
| 3 |  | ES | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 20 | 44 |
| 4 |  | BU | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 54 | 31 | 43 |
| 5 |  | AU | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 39 | 27 | 40 |
| 6 |  | BO | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 42 | 28 |
| 7 |  | TC | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 38 | 56 | 25 |
| 8 |  | WR | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 45 | 23 |
| 9 |  | EB | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 38 | 22 |
| 10 |  | MN | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 41 | 56 | 19 |
| 11 |  | MU | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 29 | 54 | 18 |
| 12 |  | HW | 22 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 48 | 14 |
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