Auckland City claim Seoul scalp in Hong Kong

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 28 January 2017

Picture: Nike Lunar New Year Cup

HONG KONG - Auckland City FC have claimed the scalp of another professional club with a 1-0 win over Korean champions FC Seoul to open the Nike Lunar New Year Cup on Saturday evening in Hong Kong.

Emiliano Tade put the icing on Auckland’s fine first half performance with the only goal of the game at the end of a move he started himself.

Winning the ball in the centre circle, Tade drove forward found Ryan De Vries cutting in on his right, who returned the favour with a pass that took out Yoo Hyun leaving his teammate with the simplest of finishes.

The goal was deserved reward for a half in which they dominated possession and it set up another famous scalp for the Sandringham club.

“It’s a fantastic result,” said Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx.

“We’re playing the best team in Korea who just won the 2016 K-League. They’re a full time professional team, with a big stadium and big facilities and some guys from Auckland City just a very small club in New Zealand has not only managed to compete but also win the game.”

As to be expected of a team that has been to two AFC Champions League finals in recent years, FC Seoul ratcheted up their intensity after the break with former Monaco and Arsenal forward Park Chu Young adding plenty of spark when he replaced Montenegrin international Dejan Domjanovic.

FULLTIME - #NavyBlues 1-0 @FCSEOUL #ACvSE #NikeLunarNewYearCup - Champions of @OFCfootball defeat Korean champions in Hong Kong! pic.twitter.com/SmqGCOkhe2
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) January 28, 2017

But the Navy Blues defence held firm, and while they benefitted from a pair of brilliant saves from Enaut Zubikarai from Kwak Tawhwi and Osmar respectively, it was far from one way traffic with only the woodwork preventing Tade from doubling the lead.

“We started well in the second half but maybe it evened up a bit,” said Tribulietx.

“They pushed higher but we managed to break through the pressure a few times. After the first 25 minutes we began to tire and that’s when we gave the initiative to them.”

“That’s when you have to be able to suffer, shut the whole thing down and hope you are defensively organised and don’t give them any chances and can catch them on a counter which we almost did. “

Tribulietx was reluctant to rank the result among the proud list of professional clubs Auckland City has beaten but was clear the victory’s significance should not be under valued.

“It’s another very professional performance from a very small club. These people here don’t understand how big the difference is. After so many Club World Cups and competitive performances I think people think we are a lot bigger than we are.

“If they came to New Zealand and saw our club which is driven by a lot of volunteers making a big effort, they’d be surprised to see us play well against clubs that are 30, 40 times bigger ours. We’re very proud.”

The celebrations were dampened somewhat by an injury to captain Angel Berlanga taken to hospital for x-rays on a facial injury sustained late in the match.

Auckland City will now play Kitchee SC in Tuesday’s final of the invitational tournament after the host club beat Thai champions SCG Muangthong United 6-5 on penalties after the scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

That match will kick off at 5.30pm local time (10pm NZDT).

Match Result
Nike Lunar New Year Cup
Saturday 28 January 2017
Auckland City FC 1 (Emiliano Tade 45+1')
FC Seoul 0
Halftime: 1-0

AUCKLAND CITY FC: 1-Enaut ZUBIKARAI (gk), 3-Takyu IWATA, 4-Mario BILEN (7-Reid DRAKE 80’), 5-Angel BERLANGA (c) (23-Marko DORDEVIC 88’), 8-Albert RIERA, 9-Darren WHITE, 10-Ryan DE VRIES, (17-Joao MOREIRA 58’), 11-Fabrizio TAVANO, 16-Daewook KIM, 19-Micah LEA’ALAFA (14-Clayton LEWIS), 20-Emilano TADE.
Substitutes not used: 6-Cam HOWIESON, 13-Alfie ROGERS, 15-Mario ILICH, 17-Joao MOREIRA, 18-Danyon DRAKE (rgk), 21-Harry EDGE, 22-Sean COOPER, 25-Abdulla AL-KALISY.
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX

ENDS