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Maro Bonsu-Maro goal slays Dragons

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 2 February 2019

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Auckland City FC made it lucky 13 wins in a row after a Maro Bonsu-Maro goal handed them a 1-0 victory over Canterbury United in the ISPS Handa Premiership today.

The victory means Auckland City FC have lost just once in 31 games since October 15, 2017, when Team Wellington defeated them 3-1

STARTING XI - Here is how the #NavyBlues line up for today's #ISPSHandaPrem Match Week 15 encounter with @CU_Dragons Mario Bilen captains the side and there is a debut for Patrick Lundemo.

#CUvAC
#ISPSHandaPrem 0-0 pic.twitter.com/uFR7nvMENH
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) February 2, 2019

The defeat in question was the 3-0 reverse to Tasman United following an administrative error in December 2017, a match Auckland City FC originally won 3-1 but were forced to turnover.

Since then the Navy Blues have racked up 18 consecutive wins and have shown no sign of slowing down since.

Alongside their domestic efforts they've also gone 25 matches undefeated in the OFC Champions League, just two short of equalling their own record of 27, set four years ago.

Coach Ramon Tribulietx shuffled his pack for this game knowing that the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup journey begins with a 12 hour flight to Hong Kong early Sunday morning.

He handed a first team debut to Swede Patrick Lundemo while there were also rare starts for veteran Takuya Iwata, Dylan Manickum and Alfie Rogers.

62'- GOAL!!!! Maro Bonsu-Maro scores for the #NavyBlues

#CUvAC
#ISPSHandaPrem 0-1 pic.twitter.com/nG0OOvcPjy
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) February 2, 2019

Goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai was kept busy with a save from Gary Ogilvie early on while Micah Lea'alafa went close with a dangerous effort just after the restart.

Zubikarai was in the thick of the action shortly after when he denied Aaron Spain after good lead in work by Stephen Hoyle.

Canterbury United, desperate to hang on to their playoff spot, were finally undone when Maro Bonsu-Maro popped up with what would prove to be the winner on the hour mark for his second goal of the campaign.

Auckland City FC are now 11 points clear of second placed Eastern Suburbs and an astonishing 17 ahead of fourth placed Team Wellington.

Canterbury United are 15 points adrift as the Navy Blues look set to storm towards their sixth premiership title in a row.

Auckland City FC now turn their attention towards the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup in Hong Kong with the team departing tomorrow morning at 6am NZST.

A squad announcement will be made tonight via www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Ends

Match Result
ISPS Handa Premiership
Saturday 2 February 2019
Canterbury United 0
Auckland City FC 1 (Maro BONSU-MARO 69')
HT: 0-0

AC: 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. Brian KALTACK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 10. Micah LEA'ALAFA (14. Jordan VALE 80'), 11. Fabrizio TAVANO, 12. Dylan MANICKUM (19. David BROWNE 60'), 13. Patrick LUNDEMO (21. Maro BONSU-MARO 67'), 16. Yousif ALI, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

SUBS NOT USED: 18. Ruben PARKER (GK), 22. Omar GUARDIOLA.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX

Tonghai Finance Chinese New Year Cup 2019
Tuesday 5 February , 2019
Auckland City FC v Shandong Luneng
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: 9pm NZST

Tonghai Finance Chinese New Year Cup 2019
Tuesday 5 February , 2019
Hong Kong League XI v Sagan Tosu
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: 11.15pm NZST

Tonghai Finance Chinese New Year Cup 2019
Third Place match
Thursday 7 February, 2019
Loser of A v Loser of B
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: 9pm NZST

Tonghai Finance Chinese New Year Cup 2019
Final
Thursday 7 February, 2019
Winner of A v Winner of B
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: 11.15pm NZST