Frustration for Junior Navy Blues

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 8 December 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The race for the National Youth League title will go to the wire after the Junior Navy Blues and ten-man Team Wellington produced a thrilling 2-2 draw at Kiwitea Street today.

The visitors took a shock lead just after the half-hour mark when Lukas Halikias stole in front of Callum McNeill to stab home from close range as the Junior Navy Blues struggled to find momentum.

Despite that start, Team Wellington goalkeeper Connor Maxwell was forced into two brilliant saves that preserved his side's advantage.

But the flow of the game quickly shifted when William Forrest was sent off for a second bookable offence just on the stroke of halftime.

The Junior Navy Blues emerged from the break in a much different mood and quickly set about exposing the extra space on the pitch.

Maro Bonsu-Maro signalled the recovery when he broke clear to slide a neat finish past Maxwell on the hour mark.

78’- Tough work as Thomas Drillien and the TW skipper contest possession #ACvTW 2-1 #NYL pic.twitter.com/lu9eWvePXA
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) December 8, 2018

Joshua Jones then completed the turnaround when he scored to give Auckland City FC the lead for the first time in the match.

The Junior Navy Blues created several more gilt-edged chances and a spate of half-chances but were unable to convert either through good goalkeeping by Maxwell or mere centimetres of an outstretched boot.

With the points looking headed for Camilo Speranza's team, Team Wellington then found another gear with Forbes Nyatsanza in sparkling form.

The Junior Navy Blues were unable to take heed of the warning signs and Jesse Randall punished the home side when he equalised with just three minutes left.

It was a hammerblow for Auckland City FC who could've wrapped up the title with a victory and they must now go to Tasman United and win to retain the trophy they lifted last season.

For Team Wellington the final result may have felt like a win but in real terms it spelt the end of their interest in lifting the title.

For coach Camilo Speranza the performance repeated a pattern in recent weeks that he says boils down to mental application.

"This is just another example of what we've seen this season - it's a movie we've been in before.
"We've dominated the game and played better than our opponents and then for whatever reason we concede a goal and we drop two points.

"But I need to say what I said to the players in the dressing room - I admired the way they played in the second half. I admired the effort, their attitude and their workrate.

"We got to the end of the first half and I thought we played the worst we have in the whole season so far.

"I don't believe we have a deficit in terms of playing that requires specific focus - we're creating scoring chances and preventing them.

CHANCE - #JuniorNavyBlues creating opportunities regularly and need a two goal cushion to be sure of the points pic.twitter.com/2uH6BwwWq9
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) December 8, 2018

"We have to change our mindset and not switch off for 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

"Our opponents in the National Youth League are all very tough and if you switch off at any given moment you can pay a heavy price for that," Speranza told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Elsewhere, Eastern Suburbs kept the pressure up with a dramatic 5-4 win over Tasman United while Southern United gave themselves a title lifeline after a solid 4-1 away win over Hawke's Bay United.

Hamilton Wanderers battered the Wellington Phoenix 6-1 while Waitakere United - who sit just three points adrift of Auckland City FC - travel to Christchurch to take on Canterbury United in what amounts to a must-win showdown for the West Aucklanders.

The definitive tie-breaker in the National Youth League is goal difference and currently the Junior Navy Blues enjoy a healthy plus nine advantage.

The final match of the campaign is away to Tasman United next Saturday 15 December, 2018, at Saxton Field.

The game kicks off at 1pm NZST.

Ends

CHANCE! Junior Navy Blues go close to levelling the game but for this fantastic save! #ACvTW 0-1 pic.twitter.com/Z9WQ0081aY
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) December 8, 2018

Match Result
National Youth League
Saturday 8 December 2018
Auckland City FC 2 (Maro BONSU-MARO 59', Joshua JONES 71')
Team Wellington 2 (Lukas HALIKIAS 32', Jesse RANDALL 87')
HT: 0-1
William Forrest (TW) sent off 45+2'

AC: 1. Cameron BROWN (GK), 2. Nathan LOBO (22. Micaiah PAPA 82'), Jackson WOODS, 4. Robert TIPELU, 7. Justin BAILEY (17. Matthew ELLIS 90'), 8. Oscar SPRAGG (16. Mohammed SHAH 90'), 9. Thomas DRILLIEN, 10. Maro BONSU-MARO, 11. James GREEN (19. Bradley WILSON 46'), 13. Joshua JONES (c), 21. Callum McNEILL.

SUBS NOT USED: 24. Gareth LEWIS (GK).

COACH: Camilo SPERANZA.

Other results
Eastern Suburbs 5
Tasman United 4

Hawke's Bay United 1
Southern United 4

Hamilton Wanderers 6
Wellington Phoenix 1

Playing tomorrow
Canterbury United v Waitakere United
Sunday 9 December 2018, at English Park, Christchurch

NATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE TITLE RUN IN

1. AUCKLAND CITY FC - GAMES 8, POINTS 16, GOAL DIFFERENCE +9
15.12.18 v Tasman United (A)

2. SOUTHERN UNITED - GAMES 8, POINTS 15, GOAL DIFFERENCE +3
15.12.18 v Canterbury United (H)

3. EASTERN SUBURBS - GAMES 8, POINTS 15, GOAL DIFFERENCE +2
15.12.18 v Hawke's Bay United (A)

4. WAITAKERE UNITED - GAMES 7, POINTS 13, GOAL DIFFERENCE +4
09.12.18 v Canterbury United (A)
16.12.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (H)

5. CANTERBURY UNITED - GAMES 7, POINTS 11, GOAL DIFFERENCE +4
09.12.18 v Waitakere United (H)
15.12.18 v Southern United (A)