Navy Blues lose season opener
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Team Wellington come from behind to beat Auckland City FC 3-1 in the ISPS Handa Premiership and reclaim Charity Cup.
Navy Blues coach Ramon Tribulietx handed four debuts to All Whites Liam Graham and Kris Bright and there were starts too for Ole Academy youngsters Callum McCowatt and Owen Parker-Price.
Bright made immediate inroads scoring the opener for Auckland City FC after 20 minutes but the Navy Blues were reeled in just before the break through Tom Jackson's finish.
The tide turned when defender Mario Bilen went off injured midway through the second half and Scott Hilliar took full advantage when he headed home at the near post from a Joel Stevens corner.
Zubikarai was kept busy in the final 20 minutes and did well with saves to deny Kilkolly and Jackson.
But Stevens confirmed Team Wellington's victory with two minutes to go when his shot found a way beyond Zubikarai for the third.
The defeat was the second consecutive opening day ISPS Handa Premiership loss in a row for the Navy Blues who were beaten by Waitakere United 1-0 in the corresponding fixture from last season.
It was also only the second time Team Wellington have won the Charity Cup following on from their penalty shoot-out win over the Navy Blues in 2014.
In the National Youth League Auckland City FC got off to a solid start with a 1-1 draw away to Southern United. The Junior Navy Blues 1,573km trip to Dunedin started off positively when they took the lead from the penalty mark after four minutes but they lost that advantage before the breakk via an own goal.
Auckland City FC's next match is away to Southern United at Sunnyvale Park in Dunedin on Sunday 22 October.
The match kicks off at 2pm.
Ends
Match Result
ISPS Handa Premiership/Charity Cup
Sunday 15 October 2017
Auckland City FC 1 (Kris Bright 20')
Team Wellington 3 (Tom Jackson 39', Scott Hilliar 77', Joel Stevens 88')
Halftime: 1-1
AC: Zubikarai (GK), Morgan, Berlanga, Bilen (Kim), Graham, Parker-Price, Riera, Howieson, McCowatt (Tavano), Bright, Tade
SUBS: D Drake (GK), R Drake, Hudson-Wihongi.
COACH: Ramon Tribulietx
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 18 |
| 2 |  | WS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 |  | BU | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 |  | ES | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
| 5 |  | BO | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 |  | MN | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
| 7 |  | AU | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 |  | TC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 6 |
| 9 |  | MU | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 11 |  | EB | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 12 |  | HW | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 2 |
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