Navy Blues set for another midweek test
Words: ACFC Media
Tuesday 23 July 2024
Picture: Phototek
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City host Northern League rivals West Coast Rangers as part of their gruelling schedule on Wednesday night at the Croatian Cultural Society.
The Navy Blues are coming off two challenging encounters—a thrilling 2-2 draw with Birkenhead and a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate against Western Springs, also in the top four, and Wednesday’s showdown puts further pressure on the squad.
“Yeah, the game against West Coast Rangers on Wednesday is very important because now we got around six games remaining in the Northern League and we are on the hunt of ensuring the top four spot for the National League, that's our main priority,” said Navy Blues head coach Albert Riera.
“We always go out and play every game with a mindset of winning the game, playing good football, but we are all very aware of the congested schedule that we are going through at the moment.
“I'm very proud of all the effort the players put in day in and day out because the amount of games they are playing in a very short period of time, especially two massive games against top teams like Birkenhead, Riera continued.
“I thought the players for the vast majority of the two games competed very well, considering the situation. Now it's about going through that, using those games to perform as best as we can, using it as well to gel with the new players that we have in the squad.
“We don't have much time to train, so that makes it a bit harder, but all the players have the right mindset and again now getting towards the end of the Northern League, it's important that we get three points against West Coast Rangers.
“We played them last time and it was a tough game, very tough game and it's going to be a similar game. We have to play our style, be patient and controlling the ball, controlling the tempo.
“Hopefully we can get the three points and then we can focus for the next game,” added Riera.
Recent History
The last meeting between these two teams occurred in Round 5 of the 2025 Northern League season. Auckland City FC emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 win. After a goalless first half, Liam Gillion, Regont Murati, and Dylan Manickum found the net, securing crucial points for the visitors at Fred Taylor Park.
Their Huapai Reserve meeting in Round 15 of the 2023 season witnessed another 3-0 win for Auckland City This match was particularly memorable as it marked a significant milestone for Navy Blues’ goal machine, Ryan De Vries. De Vries joined the elite ranks of Keryn Jordan and Angus Kilkolly, becoming only the third player in the club’s history to achieve such a feat.
However, earlier in 2023, Auckland City FC settled for a share of the points in their R4 encounter against West Coast Rangers. The Easter Monday clash at Kiwitea Street ended in a hard-fought 1-all draw.
These clubs have crossed paths only twice before. On both occasions, the Navy Blues emerged victorious. The first encounter resulted in a commanding 4-0 win at Fred Taylor Park, while the second match saw a 2-0 victory against a Rangers side led by current City coach Albert Riera.
Ends
HEAD TO HEAD
2024
West Coast Rangers 0-3 Auckland City FC (Liam GILLION, Regont MURATI, Dylan MANICKUM)
2023
West Coast Rangers 0-3 Auckland City FC (Ryan DE VRIES, Liam GILLION, Regont MURATI)
Auckland City FC 1-1 West Coast Rangers (Ryan DE VRIES | Allan PEARCE)
2021
West Coast Rangers 0-4 Auckland City FC (Stewart ADDISON, Angus KILKOLLY, Yousif AL-KALISY, OG)
Auckland City FC 2-0 West Coast Rangers (Myer BEVAN, Kristoff MULLER)
RECENT FORM - WEST COAST RANGERS
NORTHERN LEAGUE RD 16
Saturday, July 20
West Coast Rangers 0-1 Auckland United
NORTHERN LEAGUE RD 15
Saturday, July 13
Melville United 1-2 West Coast Rangers
NORTHERN LEAGUE RD 14
Saturday, June 29
Manurewa 1-2 West Coast Rangers
NORTHERN LEAGUE RD 13
Friday, June 21
West Coast Rangers 0-5 Birkenhead United
NORTHERN LEAGUE RD 12
Saturday, June 8
Hamilton Wanderers 2-1 West Coast Rangers
MATCH DETAILS
NORTHERN LEAGUE R21
Wednesday 24 July 2024
v. West Coast Rangers
Croatian Cultural Society
Kick-off: 7:00pm
AC SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH (c) 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 5. Marco LORENZ, 6- Kailan GOULD, 8-Gerard GARRIGA. 9-Angus KILKOLLY, 10-Dylan MANICKUM, 11-Ryan DE VRIES, 12- Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 15. Luka VICELICH, 16-Joe LEE, 17. Jerson LAGOS, 18 - Areya PRASAD (GK), 19-Liam GILLION, 20- Derek TIEKU, 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
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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