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Navy Blues ready for return leg

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 15 March 2024

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC will be aiming to build on last weekend’s performance when they take on Wellington Olympic in the return leg of their OFC Champions League Playoff series on Saturday afternoon at the New Zealand capital.

A cool finish by Stipe Ukich helped the Navy Blues to end a two-match losing streak to Olympic last Saturday at Kiwitea Street and Albert Riera’s charges will be determined to make their slim advantage count when the two sides face each other again to decide who will represent New Zealand at 2024 OFC Champions League hosted by Tahiti in May.

Although the Navy Blues have already secured their place in the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, the 2024 Champions League will provide the winners a spot at another prestigious international competition with participation at the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup on offer at the end of the year.

Wellington Olympic are the current National League and Grand Final winners as well as the Charity Cup holders.

The Mediterranean Cup, which is usually contested by the two clubs head-to-head, is being competed for over the two legs of the OFC Champions League National Playoff series in this instance, giving the Navy Blues a chance to return the trophy to Kiwitea after losing it to Olympic last year.

City Defender Michael Den Heijer says his side will be well prepared and ready to face a stern challenge from the home side.

“I’m expecting a fast start from them, it’s going to be a fiery game, yeah I think we will have to come up with exactly the same attitude what we brought to Kiwitea in the first leg, so it’s going to be a battle for sure, he said.”

Click HERE to watch the match live and free on FIFA Plus.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

2024

OFC Champions League Qualifier 1st Leg
Auckland City FC 1-0 Wellington Olympic AFC
AC: Stipe Ukich
WO: N/A

2023

National League Grand Final
Wellington Olympic 2-0 Auckland City FC
WO: Kalilan Gould, Jack-Henry Sinclair
AC: N/A

National League Championship
Auckland City FC 1-3 Wellington Olympic
AC: Dylan Manickum
WO: Gianni Bouzoukis 2, Hamish Watson

OFC Champions League Playoff 2nd Leg
Auckland City FC 5-3 Wellington Olympic
AC: Liam Gillion, Emiliano Tade 3, Angus Kilkolly
WO: Ben Mata, Hamish Watson 2

OFC Champions League Playoff 1st Leg
Wellington Olympic 1-1 Auckland City FC
WO: Joel Stevens
AC: Christian Gray

2022

National League Championship Final
Auckland City FC 3-2 Wellington Olympic
AC: Liam Gillion, Gerard Garriga, Angus Kilkolly
WO: Tor Davenport Petersen, Ben Mata.

National League Championship
Wellington Olympic 1-2 Auckland City FC
WO: Gianni Bouzoukis
AC: Ryan De Vries, Own Goal

Chatham Cup Semi-Final
Auckland City FC 3-1 Wellington Olympic
AC: Dylan Manickum, Joe Lee, Emiliano Tade
WO: Jesse Randall

Match Details
OFC Champions League Qualifier 1st Leg
Saturday 16 March 2023
Wellington Olympic AFC vs Auckland City FC
Martin Luckie Park, Berhampore
Kick-off: 2pm NZDT

AC 2023 OFC CL SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 5- Timothy BOULET, 6. Riley SEXTON, 8-Gerard GARRIGA. 7-Cam HOWIESON (c), 9-Angus KILKOLLY, 10-Dylan MANICKUM, 11-Ryan DE VRIES, 12-Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 14-Jordan VALE, 15- Caleb MOOSBALLY, 16-Joe LEE, 17-Joe RIDLEY, 18 - Areya PRASAD (GK), 19-Liam GILLION, 21- Adam BELL, 22-Tong ZHO, 23- Alfie ROGERS, 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 25- Michael DEN HEIJER, 26-Rayan TAYEB, 27-Stipe UKICH.

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