A tough game for Navy Blues - Tribulietx

Words: ACFC Media

Sunday 30 September 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Ramon Tribulietx says there is plenty of work to be done as the Navy Blues pre-season preparation for the new season continued at Auckland Grammar today.

After a 4-2 win over Hamilton Wanderers last week, Auckland City FC hosted a physical and robust Canterbury United in beautiful sunny conditions at Auckland Grammar.

While the Navy Blues came within inches of picking up another friendly win when Fabrizio Tavano struck the crossbar with a free-kick with eight minutes left to play a draw was a fair reflection of the action.

Speaking after the match, Tribulietx said: "There was some good football in both halves but there is some stuff we need to sort out positionally and a bit of impatience on the ball in the second half.

82’- CHANCE- Fabrizio Tavano rattles the Canterbury United crossbar with a beautiful freekick #ACvCU 0-0 #Preseason pic.twitter.com/4uzuKvduwf

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) September 30, 2018

"We lost the ball a lot in simple situations in the second half but we've got a lot of new players and they need to understand how we want to play as a team. I understand that's going to happen when you're bedding in new players and we had good moments where we pressed out of possession.

"The game was tough. Canterbury are a very physical team and there was a lot of contact and the referee allowed that contact and the game became a big battle. Sometimes games like this can wake you up and give you a reminder of what the ISPS Handa Premiership can be like a couple of weeks out," he said.

Auckland City FC's next match is away to Eastern Suburbs AFC at Madills Farm on Saturday 6 October 2018.

The game kicks off at 2.30pm NZST.

Ends

Match Result
Pre-season friendly
Sunday 30 September 2018
Auckland City FC 0
Canterbury United 0
HT: 0-0

AC: Cameron Brown (GK) (Ruben Parker (GK) 46'); Alfie Rogers (Brian Kaltack 46'), Angel Berlanga (c), Mario Bilen, Takuya Iwata (Hayden McHenerey 46'); David Browne (Dylan Manickum 46'), Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi (Jordan Vale 46'), Cam Howieson (Fabrizio Tavano 46'), Micah Lea'alafa, Reid Drake (Yousif Al Kalisy 60'); Javier Lopez (Maro Bonsu-Maro 46').

Coach: Ramon Tribulietx.