In-form Navy Blues take aim at Magenta

Words: ACFC Media

Monday 21 February 2011

An Auckland City side who have not lost for eight matches will look to keep that impressive run going when they meet New Caledonia champions Magenta on Monday evening in a rescheduled 2011 O-League Group B encounter.

The teams were set to clash on Saturday 5 February but the match had to be postponed due to the unsuitability of Magenta’s Stade Numa Daly ground to host such a fixture at that time. The new date means City are in for a busy week that could well decide the New Zealand side’s O-League fortunes.

Just days after squaring off against Magenta, they return home to face local rivals Waitakere United on Sunday 27 February in a game vital to both sides’ chances of securing top spot and booking a place in the final.

City will have to get by in Noumea without the services of suspended defender Angel Berlanga, who has been a key figure in recent weeks and was named ASB Premiership Player of the Month for January. His loss will be a big blow for the City rearguard, who have conceded only three goals during that eight-match undefeated run.

“He has probably been our most influential player this season,” says co-coach Aaron McFarland.

“We spread our back four quite widely and so when we do lose the ball we have to defend. Angel is both tactically astute and quick so he’s very difficult to get past. He allows people like David Mulligan to get good quality ball going forward and thrive on possession.”

Fellow central defender Phil Edgington has also recently left the club to join Waikato FC, leaving City a little light on defensive cover. Only four recognised defenders have been named for Monday’s game – Ivan Vicelich, Sam Campbell, James Pritchett and Ian Hogg – and the coaching staff will have their fingers crossed that none of that quartet pick up an injury.

One player who certainly will be involved is Berlanga’s fellow Spaniard Manel Exposito, whose pace and skill is likely to make him a favourite of the City faithful.

The former Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid striker has not had many chances to shine since signing for the club in January but showed glimpses of what he can do during the Team Wellington win, including an exquisite lob to open the scoring.

The 29-year-old made his debut for Catalan giants Barcelona alongside FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi in a friendly against Porto and went on to play several more friendlies for the first team before a foot injury interrupted his burgeoning career at the Nou Camp.

“It was not a problem for him to come into the squad as he understands what we are doing and trying to achieve,” says co-coach Ramon Tribulietx, whose own links to Barcelona add to the Spanish flavour at a club with strong Croatian roots.

“Before he came I told him what style we were looking to play. He was happy with that.”

City have a recent history of great success with foreign strikers - South African duo Grant Young and Keryn Jordan both became legends at the club and are among the most prominent goal-scorers ever seen in the country. Exposito appears to have the credentials and ability to follow in their bootsteps and will be eager to get off the mark in his first O-League appearance.

Despite lying at the foot of the Group B table, Magenta have plenty of firepower of their own and are likewise in confident mood after opening their 2011 Super Ligue campaign with a win last weekend. The Noumea team beat defending champions Mont Dore 4-2 thanks to a double from Paul Poatinda and further goals to Andre Sinedo and Leopold Makalu.

Poatinda will not get the chance to add to his tally on Monday as he is suspended for the clash while defender Benjamin Longue, who has appeared in French Ligue 1 with Bastia, will also not be involved.

Coach Alain Moizan was pleased to begin the domestic Super Ligue with a win over such high-quality opposition but feels his side will need to improve in certain areas against City.

“We have to be more cohesive and play better as a team,” he says. “We need to make sure we are well-organised and defend properly. We can then build on that going forward. We also made too many mistakes in our last game so will need to improve our concentration.”

Magenta [NCL] vs. Auckland City [NZL]
Monday 21 February
Noumea, New Caledonia
Stade Numa Daly
Local kick-off: 7pm

Referee: John SAOHU [SOL]
Assistant referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant referee 2: Ruilly ERMANEL [NCL]
Fourth Official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [FRA]

Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK [GK], 3. Judigael IXOEE, 4. Jean Paul READ, 6. Wilson FOREST, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 8. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 10. Cesar LOLOHEA, 14. Jules WEA, 15. Julien WALLES, 16. Alain IONE [GK], 17. Andre SINEDO, 18. Eric HENESEWENE, 21. Alexis DUVAL, 22. Jonathan KAKOU, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 26. Leopold MAKALU, 29. Andre NAXUE, 30. Ludovic HAEWANG.
Coach: Alain MOIZAN