Navy Blues grind out another win

Words: ACFC Media

Sunday 28 January 2018

TAURANGA, New Zealand - Auckland City FC grind out an important 1-0 away win over Hamilton Wanderers in sweltering conditions at Links Avenue today.

Micah Lea'alafa's goal midway through the first half was enough to decide a match played in 30 degree heat that sees the Navy Blues leapfrog into top spot over Team Wellington.

The 1-0 win was the Navy Blues third away victory in the space of seven days and gives the Ramon Tribulietx-coached side a major boost in their quest to retain the minor premiership title and qualification for the OFC Champions League.

Hamilton Wanderers defeat means they equal YoungHeart Manawatu's record for longest winless streak in the ISPS Handa Premiership but it would be harsh to remember this match for that alone with Ricki Herbert's side contributing to a tightly contested encounter with Tommy Semmy and Patrick Aisa a constant threat on the break.

It was a far from pretty performance by Auckland City FC with a handful of chances spurned including three awkward one-on-one opportunities each for Lea'alafa, McCowatt and Tade.

Wanderers will rue Jordan Shaw's miss from a yard out when he latched onto a downward header after a corner forced a top initial save by Enaut Zubikarai.

What will matter most to Tribulietx will be the win which completes a remarkable week where the Navy Blues won away at Canterbury United (2-0), Eastern Suburbs AFC (2-0) and Hamilton Wanderers (1-0).

This sequence of results gives Auckland City FC a handy platform for their next clash which sees them host Team Wellington at Kiwitea Street on Sunday 4 February in a pivotal game where the minor premiership is concerned.

Skipper Angel Berlanga was proud of the performance.

"I'm proud of everyone including the players who didn't play because we've worked hard to get this win. This is a big pitch and we tried to make it bigger for Wanderers but sometimes your legs don't respond to the demands," he said.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership
Sunday 28 January 2018
Hamilton Wanderers 0
Auckland City FC 1 (Micah Lea'alafa 23')
HT: 0-1

AC: Zubikarai (GK), Rogers, Bilen, Berlanga, Hudson-Wihongi (Iwata); H Edge, Howieson, Tavano (R Drake); McCowatt, Tade, Lea'alafa (Riera).

Subs not used: Tracey (GK), Graham.

ISPS Handa Premiership Minor Title Run-in

1. Auckland City FC
Played 13, Points 27 (Goal Difference +21)
24.01.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (A) won 2-0
28.01.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 1-0
04.02.18 v Team Wellington (H)
11.02.18 v Hawke's Bay United (A)
25.02.18 v Tasman United (A)
11.03.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (H)
17.03.18 v Wellington Phoenix (A)

2. Team Wellington
Played 13, Points 26 (Goal Difference +13)
27.01.18 v Tasman United (A) won 4-1
04.02.18 v Auckland City FC (A)
18.02.18 v Waitakere United (H)
04.03.18 v Southern United (A)
11.03.18 v Canterbury United (A)
18.03.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (H)

3. Eastern Suburbs AFC
Played 13, Points 23 (Goal Difference +5)
24.01.18 v Auckland City FC (H) lost 0-2
28.01.18 v Hawke's Bay United (A) lost 0-2
04.02.18 v Wellington Phoenix (A)
11.02.18 v Tasman United (H)
04.03.18 v Waitakere United (H)
11.03.18 v Auckland City FC (A)
17.03.18 v Canterbury United (H)

4. Canterbury United
Played 12, Points 20 (Goal Difference +9)
28.01.18 v Wellington Phoenix (H) won 3-2
04.02.18 v Southern United (H)
10.02.18 v Wellington Phoenix (A)
18.02.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (A)
25.02.18 v Hawke's Bay United (A)
11.03.18 v Team Wellington (H)
17.03.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (A)

5. Tasman United
Played 13, Points 17 (Goal Difference -3)
27.01.18 v Team Wellington (H) lost 1-4
04.02.18 v Hawke's Bay United (H)
11.02.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (A)
25.02.18 v Auckland City FC (H)
11.03.18 v Wellington Phoenix (A)
18.03.18 v Waitakere United (A)

6. Waitakere United
Played 13, Points 16 (Goal Difference 0)
28.01.18 v Southern United (A) lost 0-1
04.02.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (H)
18.02.18 v Team Wellington (A)
04.03.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (A)
11.03.18 v Hawke's Bay United (H)
18.03.18 v Tasman United (H)

7. Hawke's Bay United
Played 13, Points 16 (Goal Difference -7)
21.01.18 v Team Wellington (A) lost 1-2
28.01.18 v Eastern Suburbs AFC (H) won 2-0
04.02.18 v Tasman United (A)
11.02.18 v Auckland City FC (H)
25.02.18 v Canterbury United (H)
11.03.18 v Waitakere United (A)
17.03.18 v Southern United (H)

8. Southern United
Played 13, Points 15 (Goal Difference -4)
21.01.18 v Tasman United (H) lost 2-4
28.01.18 v Waitakere United (H) won 1-0
04.02.18 v Canterbury United (A)
11.02.18 v Team Wellington (H)
18.02.18 v Wellington Phoenix (H)
10.03.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (H)
17.03.18 v Hawke's Bay United (A)