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Dom Road Derby to open Northern League season

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 21 March 2024

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC will be looking to extend their winning streak over neighbours Auckland United FC to five consecutive matches when they visit Keith Hay Park for Friday night’s Northern League opener.

The two teams have meet four times last season, twice in the Northern League as well as in both the Chatham Cup and the National League Championship, with the Navy Blues coming out on top on every occasion.

City will be high on confidence after overcoming current National League Champions Wellington Olympic in their two-legged National Playoff Series to secure qualification for the 2024 OFC Champions League in Tahiti, following a 1-0 win at Kiwitea and a thrilling come-from-behind 3-3 draw in the New Zealand capital last weekend.

But Albert Riera’s men are aware that matches against United, known as the Dominion Road Derby, are always hotly contested and unpredictable affairs and the upcoming encounter is promising to be no different.

Midfielder Gerard Garriga says the Navy Blues are ready for the new Northern League season and determined to kick off their campaign in a positive fashion.

“The team is really focused, for it and we are quite ambitious and we will try to compete for all the competition that we are going to play this year.

“We have another start and we want to do well and want to keep winning in the Northern League and the first game is always the most important, especially in a big Derby game, Garriga said.

“It’s always a nice game playing against Auckland United because they are one of the best clubs that we can face in the Northern League and in the national League, they have a good squad and good staff.

“We know it’s going to be tough, they are going to be ready for it, and it’s going to be a very interesting game to watch,” explained the Navy Blues midfielder.

Meanwhile the Valerio Raccuglia-coached U-23 Navy Blues will open their Lotto NRFL Men’s Premiership season against Auckland United FC NRFL U23 at 12:30 pm on Saturday afternoon at Keith Hay Park 1.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

2023

National League Championship
Auckland City FC 3-2 Auckland United FC

Northern League
Auckland United FC 0-2 Auckland City FC

Chatham Cup Rd 2
Auckland United FC 0-2 Auckland City FC

Northern League
Auckland City FC 2-1 Auckland United FC

2022

Northern League
Auckland City FC 2-0 Auckland United FC

Northern League
Auckland United FC 2-0 Auckland City FC

National League Championship
Auckland United FC 3-2 Auckland City FC

2021

Northern League
Auckland City FC 3-1 Auckland United FC

Match Details
Northern League Rd 1
Friday 22 March 2024
Auckland United vs Auckland City FC
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill
Kick-off: 7:15 pm NZDT

AC SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 5- Timothy BOULET, 8-Gerard GARRIGA. 7-Cam HOWIESON (c), 9-Angus KILKOLLY, 10-Dylan MANICKUM, 11-Ryan DE VRIES, 12- Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 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