Young Navy Blues lose season opener

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 23 March 2024

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Reigning Lotto NRFL Men’s Premiership winners Auckland City FC U23 have kicked off their title defence with a 2-1 defeat to Auckland United U23 on Saturday at Keith Hay Park.

Valerio Raccuglia’s men got off to the best possible start when Jesse Burge netted inside the opening five minutes.

However, the teams went into the half time break on level terms courtesy of a 26th minute equaliser by Connor Sykes.

Keen Mandizvidzat completed the fightback for the home side with a strike in the 77th minute to clinch all three points for United.

The Young Navy Blues will face their Eastern Suburbs counterparts on Easter Friday at Ngahue Reserve with kick-off scheduled at 11:30 am before hosting Tauranga City FC at the Croatian Cultural Society at 12pm on Easter Monday.

Match Result
Saturday, 23 March 2024
Lotto NRFL Men’s Premiership U23 Rd 1
Auckland United NRFL U23: 2 (Connor SYKES 22’, Keen MANDIZVIDZA 77’)
Auckland City FC U23 : 1 (Jesse BURGE 4′)

HT: 1-1

AC: 1- Reon WERAHIKO GK, 3- Max BREINGAN, 4- Jesse GAGE C, -6 Gato NYIRASABIMANA UGA, (8- Matthew Murayiro MATANYAYIRE, 46’), 9- Jesse BURGE, 10- Caleb MOOSBALLY, 11- Ryan REVILL, (19- Gabriel PEREIRA CASTELO BRANCO 80’) 12- Jeremy FOO, 20- Tai ADAMS, (15- Luka VICELICH 64’) 21- Adam BELL, 22- Rayan TAYEB

SUBS NOT USED: 1- Areya PRASAD, 16- Cayden STEFFENER

COACH: Valerio RACCUGLIA
ASSISTANT COACH: Archie DIAS
ASSISTANT COACH: Jay BLAKE
TEAM MANAGER: Dinesh CHAND