Navy Blues triumph in Gridlock Derby

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 26 January 2019

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC had to survive a late comeback by Eastern Suburbs to take out the latest Gridlock Derby with a 3-2 win at Kiwitea Street today.

The Navy Blues set about their work straight away with Micah Lea'alafa a menace to the Lilywhites defence and it was his influence that led to the first goal of the match when Kelvin Kahlua choked up possession and allowed the Solomon Islands international to skip clear before blasting the ball high into the net after 15 minutes.

There was no doubt about the Oceania flavour with the second goal - David Browne was bundled over by Michael Built on the edge of the box and then Brian Kaltack unleashed a thunderbolt free-kick into the top of the net on the angle to give goalkeeper Andrew Withers no chance.

VIDEO - Auckland City FC make it 2-0 via Brian Kaltack's free-kick

VIDEO - Auckland City FC 2-0 Eastern Suburbs #NavyBlues 2-0 up over #Lilywhites courtesy of Brian Kaltack

#ISPSHandaPrem

#ACvES 2-0 pic.twitter.com/g7MDw4rGke
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) January 26, 2019

Enaut Zubikarai made one key save late in the first half but was otherwise unflustered as the Navy Blues dominated the match.

Lea'alafa nearly made it 3-0 just before the break when he slammed a Fabrizio Tavano cross into the underside of the crossbar. That proved a portent for things to come.

Just after the restart Eastern Suburbs got themselves into more defensive calamity when David Browne picked out Lea'alafa with a beautiful cross that the diminuitive attacker finished at the far post to make it 3-0.

The visitors were in a parlous position and could've fallen further behind when goalkeeper Withers was caught up field with the ball after Lea'alafa had dragged Kahlua out of position but Tavano's attempt to score into an empty net from nearly halfway was wide of the mark.

With Auckland City FC pressing Eastern Suburbs high-risk attacking formation aggressively from the first whistle in what looked a 3-5-2 formation it seemed inevitable the pace of that approach may catch up with them and that's what happened.

Callum McCowatt, who had been kept quiet for most of the match by Kaltack, finally wriggled away from his marker and blasted home a terrific header past Enaut Zubikarai to give Danny Hay's team a much needed lifeline.

That goal pushed the momentum towards the visitors and they turned the game on it's head when Dalton Wilkins combined beautifully with Michael Built and Elijah Just in a crowded box before bundling a spinning shot past Zubikarai to make it 3-2.

From there, Auckland City FC were forced into a defensive structure as they sat deeper and allowed Eastern Suburbs back into a game they could've lost heavily.

The win gave the Navy Blues their 18th consecutive victory in the ISPS Handa Premiership and few would bet against Ramon Tribulietx's team from racking up another minor premiership title and the OFC Champions League qualification for 2020 that goes with it.

As a footnote, Cam Howieson and Dan Morgan both made their 50th appearances for Auckland City FC.

Next week's match is away to Canterbury United on Saturday 3 February 2019.

That game kicks off at 2pm NZST.

Ends

Match Result
ISPS Handa Premiership
Saturday 26 January 2019
Auckland City FC 3 (Micah LEA'ALAFA 14', 47', Brian KALTACK 23')
Eastern Suburbs 2 (Callum McCOWATT 64', Dalton WILKINS 74')
HT: 2-0

AC: 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA (c), 6. Brian KALTACK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 10. Micah LEA'ALAFA (12. Dylan MANICKUM 76'), 11. Fabrizio TAVANO, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Dan MORGAN, 16. Yousif ALI, 19. David BROWNE (21. Maro BONSU-MARO 85'),

SUBS NOT USED: 18. Ruben PARKER (GK), 9. Javier LOPEZ, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX.

AUCKLAND CITY FC FIXTURES

ISPS Handa Premiership

2 February 2019
v Canterbury United (A), kick-off 2pm NZST

Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup

5 February 2019
v Shandong Luneng Taishan (N), kick-off TBA

7 February 2019
v TBC, kick-off TBA

ISPS Handa Premiership

10 February 2019
v Wellington Phoenix (H), kick-off 2pm NZST

13 February 2019
v Southern United (A), kick-off: 5.30pm NZST

17 February 2019
v Hamilton Wanderers (H), kick-off 4.35pm NZST