AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Pre-season preparations continued for the Navy Blues as Auckland City FC clinched a 2-2 draw with the Lotto NRFL All Stars today.
11 October 2008
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Pre-season preparations continued for the Navy Blues as Auckland City FC clinched a 2-2 draw with the Lotto NRFL All Stars today.
The All Stars led 2-0, and may well have won if not for a decision to give all the first-division dirt-trackers a run in a squad where they had about seven substitutes.
There was plenty for Auckland City FC fans to be concerned about with defenders unnecessarily giving away fouls far, far too often. That could prove costly later in the summer.
Riki Van Steeden scored a spectacular headed own goal from a Luis Del Monte cross to put the All Stars ahead and Del Monte made it 2-0 with a nice far post volley.
Nathan Strom should have made it 3-0, but hit the crossbar with his free header from close range direct from a corner, with Jacob Spoonley beaten.
Auckland City FC pulled one back with Grant Young – the Navy Blues’s best player – squeezing home past Chris Marsh at the far post following a scuffed shot from Milos Nikolic, who had turned marker Jonathan Stables and made a good goalwards run.
Nikolic drew Auckland City FC level when played through midway through the second half, and with the goalkeeper standing in no man’s land, it was an easy finish.
Del Monte was the pick of the All Stars but they were a significantly weaker outfit by the time the bench were all on.
Keryn Jordan came in the second half, and added a little more spark for Auckland City FC as they went to three at the back, with Matt Friel the anchor.
No sign of Paul Urlovic who had earned himself a $3000 seat at a hi-roller poker tournament at Sky City on the day, and wasn’t relinquishing it for anything.
The All Stars were without last week’s skipper and man of the match Matt Williams, who has gone to Navua in Fiji, along with Che Bunce.
Ends
Match Result
Friendly
October 11, 2008
Auckland City FC 2 (Grant YOUNG, Milos NIKOLIC)
Lotto NRFL All Stars 2 (Riki Van STEEDEN OG, Luiz del MONTE)
HT: 1-2.
AC: 1. Ross NICHOLSON (GK) (12. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK)), 3. Matt FRIEL (19. Salesh KUMAR), 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 8. Chad COOMBES, 10. Grant YOUNG (14. Keryn JORDAN), 15. Ivan VICELICH, 17. Allan CARELLA, 20. Greg UHLMANN (16. George SURI), 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Xavi ROCA, 24. Milos NIKOLIC.
COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX.
