Navy Blues set for first friendly
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The Navy Blues first pre-season hit out takes place when they host Hamilton Wanderers at Auckland Grammar School on Saturday night.
The team has been back in training for just over a fortnight and with a number of new player bedding into the squad expectations are measured ahead of the game.
David Browne has returned after three years in the Netherlands with PEC Zwolle and FC Gronigen while former Sporting Gijon B forward Javier Iglesias is another notable addition to the squad.
Triallists Maro Bonsu Maro and Yousif Al Kalisy are also set to feature.
Coach Ramon Tribulietx cut a relaxed but focused figure as he pondered the Navy Blues' first hit-out since being eliminated from the OFC Champions League by Team Wellington back in April.
NEWS - Navy Blues set for first friendly
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) September 21, 2018
Hamilton Wanderers
Saturday 22 September 2018
Kick-off: 6.30pm NZST
Auckland Grammar School
Free entry
MORE HERE: https://t.co/GCT4ZIavjg pic.twitter.com/kfjkCUH05D
"This is the first game of pre-season and we have a lot of new personnel out there so our main objective is to have a first opportunity to give the players some much needed game time.
"We want to see how the newcomers manage how we want to play and how the team as a whole manages the modifications that we have made to our approach," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com
Hamilton Wanderers finished dead last in the ISPS Handa Premiership and have yet to take a positive result away from Auckland City FC in four attempts since joining the top flight.
Last season's corresponding pre-season match at Waiheke Island's Onetangi Domain finished in a 5-2 thrashing thanks to a Callum McCowatt hat-trick and goals by Emiliano Tade and Cam Howieson.
Ignacio Falfan and Xavier Pratt scored late consolation goals for the visitors as the Navy Blues took out the Steve Sumner Memorial Cup as part of the Fuller's Festival of Football tournament.
Auckland City FC enjoyed 6-0 and 1-0 victories over Wanderers in the ISPS Handa Premiership last season.
Tribulietx says there are more important elements to this match than simply focusing on the outcome.
"We're not expecting too much in terms of the result.
"What we expect to see are some of the things we've worked on in training to start emerging and this is the first step in our preparation.
"It's also a good chance for supporters to see some of the new faces appearing this season which is important.
"This game will see everyone get game time," he said.
The Auckland City FC youth team are also in action earlier in the day at the same venue when they take on Hamilton Wanderers at 4.30pm NZST.
Ends
MATCH DETAILS
FIRST TEAM
Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 22 September 2018
Auckland City FC v Hamilton Wanderers
Auckland Grammar School
Kick-off: 6.30pm NZST
#ACvHW
YOUTH TEAM
Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 22 September 2018
Auckland City FC v Hamilton Wanderers
Auckland Grammar School
Kick-off: 4.30pm NZST
#ACvHW
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Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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