Navy Blues bounce back to win

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 24 February 2016

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Auckland City FC extended their unbeaten run in the ASB Premiership to 26 matches after a come from behind 3-1 win over Canterbury United tonight.

In an at times fiesty encounter at English Park, the home side took the lead when former All Whites midfielder Aaron Clapham scored a penalty after 19 minutes.

Auckland City FC created two gilt-edged chances in the first half but goalkeeper Ruben Parker-Hanks pulled off a comfortable save from Micah Lea'alafa.

Parker-Hanks defence then came to his rescue when they combined to halt Ryan De Vries just moments before halftime. With the minor premiership wrapped up on Sunday, Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx made six changes to his starting line-up.

Fabrizio Tavano, Alfie Rogers, Jesse Edge, Michael Den Heijer and Danyon Drake all started with veteran Ivan Vicelich on the bench for only the second time this season.

But any sense the balance of the team was thrown off was disspelled when Emiliano Tade levelled with a superb free-kick on the hour mark.

Canterbury's grip on the match loosened six minutes later when Parker-Hanks made a critical mistake that allowed Lea'alafa to nose the Navy Blues in front.

De Vries then made sure of victory when he scored with 9 minutes to go to make it 3-1. It was De Vries' eleventh goal of the season and his seventh in just four games. Also outstanding was goalkeeper Drake who replaced Diego Rivas, hinting at the embarrassment of riches available to Tribulietx in this position.

It is now 408 days since the Navy Blues were last beaten in the ASB Premiership and they are within three games of becoming the first side to complete an entire domestic season unbeaten. Tribulietx was pleased with the reaction of his players to falling a goal behind.

"It was a tough game we knew they were going to play very hard because they needed the three points.

"In the first half although we dominated we were not really playing our possession structurally well enough.

"In one turnover, one counter attack, they got a penalty. These things can happen. "The team reacted well in the second half we sorted out the way we needed to penetrate their defence.

"They defended very deep and we did penetrate a little more and in the end we capitalised. I'm especially happy with the reaction of the team," he said. The win gives Auckland City FC an eight point advantage over closest rivals Hawke's Bay United.

A win in their final game over WaiBOP United could give the Navy Blues the biggest winning margin for a minor premier in the 14-game format of the competition.

Auckland City FC's next match is with WaiBOP United on Sunday 28 February at Kiwitea Street, kick-off 4.35pm NZST.

Ends

Match Result
Wednesday 24 February, 2016
ASB Premiership Round 12
Canterbury United 1 (Aaron CLAPHAM 19'-pen)
Auckland City FC 3 (Emiliano TADE 60', Micah LEA'ALAFA 66', Ryan DE VRIES 81')
Halftime: 1-0.