City win extends unbeaten run

Words: ACFC Media

Sunday 31 January 2016

NAPIER, New Zealand - Auckland City FC took a big stride toward the ASB Premiership minor title after a 3-1 win over Hawke's Bay United in Napier today.

All Whites forward Ryan De Vries had the Navy Blues in front after just five minutes as the visitors, shorn of regular starters Angel Berlanga, Takuya Iwata and Joao Moreira, set out their title credentials early on.

De Vries was at fault shortly after when he fired over the crossbar allowing Hawke's Bay United to clamber back into the match when Sam Mason-Smith set up Hamish Watson on the half hour mark.

The Auckland City FC forward quickly made ammends for his earlier miss when he finished off a superb through ball from Marko Dordevic just a minute later.

Hawke's Bay United were still reeling from De Vries' second when Micah Lea'Alafa bagged the Navy Blues third three minutes later only for the Solomon Islands dual international to go off injured on the stroke of halftime.

The home side created two good chances after the break but Auckland City FC goalkeeper Diego Rivas denied Sam Mason-Smith and Cory Chettleburgh both times with excellent saves.

The second half saw tempers boil over with a spate of yellow cards dished out for Hamish Watson, Fabien Kurimati, Mario Bilen, Cory Chettleburgh and Martin Canales.

Rivas was then called upon to pull off a superb save from a Kurimati effort with eight minutes left on the clock as the home side mounted pressure on the defending champions.

With Auckland City FC now seven points clear of their nearest challengers, focus for the chasing pack will turn to locking down a playoff spot.

Canterbury United have 19 points, Hawke's Bay United and Team Wellington both 18 while WaiBOP United slip to fifth, three points adrift of the playoffs.

The victory extends Auckland City FC's unbeaten run in the ASB Premiership to 23 matches dating back to January 11, 2015, when they lost 3-1 to the Wellington Phoenix reserves.

Their next match is a Super City derby with arch-rivals Waitakere United on Thursday 4 February at QBE Stadium in Albany.

Ends

Match Result
ASB Premiership Round 10
Sunday 31 January, 2016
Hawke's Bay United 1 (Hamish WATSON 30')
Auckland City FC 3 (Ryan DE VRIES 5', 31', Micah LEA'ALAFA 34')
Halftime: 1-3.

Next Match
ASB Premiership Round 11
Thursday 4 February, 2016
Auckland City FC v Waitakere United
QBE Stadium, Albany
Kick-off: 7.35pm NZST
#ACvWU

Published Sunday 31 January, 2016