Cup Run on the Line at Riverhills

After a bruising midweek defeat, the Navy Blues have little time to dwell as they look to reset, respond and push for a semi‑final berth. Head coach Rudy Mozr’s message was clear:

“Every loss is tough to take… but look, three days and we have another game. We’ve got to fix it and get ready for the Chatham Cup.

Cup form and context

City’s Cup run has been clinical:

• R1 – Bye
• R2 – Claudelands Rovers Sports 0–6 ACFC
• R3 – ACFC 2–1 East Coast Bays
• R4 – ACFC 3–0 Takapuna

Fencibles have impressed too:

• R1 – Bye
• R2 – Fencibles 6–1 Papamoa FC
• R3 – Birkenhead United 1–3 Fencibles
• R4 – Fencibles 3–1 South Auckland Rangers

Both sides arrive with momentum — Fencibles unbeaten in five, City winning four of their last five across all competitions.

Head‑to‑head snapshot

The clubs have met three times in the Northern League era:

• Auckland City wins 2   Draws 1   Fencibles wins 0
• Latest meeting: Auckland City 4–1 Fencibles United (April 25 2026)

City have scored seven goals across those fixtures, conceding three — but Mozr knows cup football rewrites form books.

“It’s a difficult game against Fencibles away, another night game. It’s not going to get any easier,” he said. “We don’t do much different between the Cup and the League — the rhythm of games is good, but we must stop conceding soft goals.”

Auckland City – Recent Form

• 4–3 loss vs East Coast Bays — A chaotic midweek thriller where chances flowed but defensive lapses proved costly.
• 3–2 win vs Tauranga City United — A gritty comeback showing character and attacking resilience.
• 5–0 win vs Manukau United — Total control, ruthless finishing, clean sheet dominance.
• 3–0 win vs Takapuna — Professional Cup performance, disciplined and efficient.
• 2–0 win vs Auckland Reserves — Steady, controlled, and decisive in key moments.

Fencibles United – Recent Form

• 2–1 win vs Auckland Reserves — Tight contest, settled by sharp finishing.
• 3–2 win vs East Coast Bays — High‑tempo battle, Fencibles showing resilience and edge.
• 3–0 win vs South Auckland Rangers — Commanding Cup performance with strong defensive shape.
• 2–1 win vs Bay Olympic — Hard‑earned points in a physical encounter.
• 3–2 win vs Melville United — Another narrow win, momentum building across competitions.

The manager’s focus

Mozr’s side will look to tighten defensively and rediscover the ruthless edge that powered their earlier Cup rounds.

“We created plenty of chances — hit the crossbar, hit the post — but if you concede four goals, you can’t expect a great result,” he reflected midweek. “We’ve been good defensively through the season, but we need to fix it and get ready for the Cup.”

The storyline

Auckland City’s pursuit of silverware continues under the lights at Riverhills Park — a test of resilience, rhythm, and response. For Fencibles, it’s a chance to make history; for City, it’s about reaffirming their Cup pedigree.

Chatham Cup Quarter‑Final Fixtures

Community & Club focus

Beyond the pitch, Auckland City FC continue to champion the Mt Roskill Schools Turf Project, expanding access to quality football facilities across Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s a reflection of the club’s broader vision — success on the field, development off it.

Ends

MATCH DETAILS

Delivereasy Chatham Cup Quarter‑Final
Fencibles United AFC vs Auckland City FC
Saturday 25 July 2026
Kick‑off: 6:00 PM 
Riverhills Park
Live on DAZN

AC SQUAD: 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nathan ROSTRON 6. Kieran RICHARDS, 7. Michal DOUDERA 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Shaan ANAND 15. Jeremy FOO 16. Fergus GILLION 17. Ryan WATSON 18. Ari PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Pavel OSMANICK 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS 24. Matt FOORD (GK) 25. Mike Den HEIJER, 26. Matt ELLIS 27. Tom GOLDING

HEAD COACH: Rudy MOZR
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Alan SHAKER
GOALKEEPER COACH: Adam BANNISTER
TRAINER: Karlo PAVIC
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON